Scour Critical Bridges in Pennsylvania
2,233 bridges in Pennsylvania at risk from water erosion around foundations.
Scour Critical Bridges
Scour is the erosion of soil and rock around a bridge's foundation caused by moving water. When foundations are exposed or undermined, a bridge can collapse even if its deck and superstructure are in good condition. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the US. These 2,233 bridges in Pennsylvania have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DARBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 1,554 |
| N BR PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 1,536 |
| TRIB TO BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 1,536 |
| W BR. WHITE CLAY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 1,530 |
| OVER TWELVE MILE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,529 |
| DUNNING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 1,524 |
| BAREFOOT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 1,524 |
| WAPWALLOPEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 1,523 |
| BRANCH OF DEEP RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 1,519 |
| BLAIR GAP RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 1,514 |
| RIDLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 1,505 |
| SAW MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 1,500 |
| GULPH MILLS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 1,500 |
| SWATARA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 1,500 |
| OVER MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1902 | 1,500 |
| OVER MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1916 | 1,500 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 1,497 |
| DOE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 1,494 |
| BUCK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 1,494 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1918 | 1,492 |
| LONG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 1,489 |
| PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 1,479 |
| WEST BRANCH CHESTER CRK. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,479 |
| SPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 1,470 |
| PINEY FORK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,458 |
| IRONSTONE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1912 | 1,457 |
| INNERS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 1,439 |
| Pine Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 1,437 |
| W. BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1924 | 1,431 |
| MANATAWNY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 1,424 |
| OVER SOUTH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 1,418 |
| OVER CROOKED CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 1,409 |
| KIPPS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 1,408 |
| SPROGELS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 1,404 |
| BLACK DITCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 1,400 |
| BRANCH OF SWABIA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 1,400 |
| MARSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1905 | 1,399 |
| PIKE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1916 | 1,392 |
| OVER TRIB TO MUD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 1,387 |
| TRIBUTARY TO MUD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 1,387 |
| OVER SWEITZERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 1,383 |
| OVER HUNTER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1959 | 1,381 |
| RAUSCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1912 | 1,370 |
| RAUSCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1912 | 1,370 |
| LITTLE EQUINUNK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 1,363 |
| ROCK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 1,360 |
| OVER CALDWELL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 1,356 |
| POCOPSON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 1,356 |
| SAW MILL RUN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1900 | 1,350 |
| MANADA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 1,321 |
Scour Critical Rating Codes
| Code 2 — Unaddressed | Bridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken. |
| Code 3 — Countermeasures Installed | Protective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical. |
| Code 6 — Countermeasures Ineffective | Protective measures were installed but have been assessed as ineffective. The bridge requires re-evaluation and additional action. |
About Scour Critical Bridges
Scour critical bridges have been identified through underwater inspection or analysis as having foundations that are unstable or could become unstable during flood conditions. FHWA requires action plans for all scour critical bridges. Famous scour failures include the 1987 Schoharie Creek Bridge collapse in New York.