Scour Critical Bridges in Connecticut
279 bridges in Connecticut 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 279 bridges in Connecticut have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 9,100 |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1913 | 9,100 |
| QUINEBAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 9,100 |
| BEACON HILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 8,900 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 8,800 |
| NONEWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 8,700 |
| NOROTON RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 8,650 |
| MASHAMOQUET BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 8,500 |
| SKUNGAMAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 8,300 |
| PEQUABUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 8,240 |
| PACHAUG RIVER - P & W RR | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 8,200 |
| STEELE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 7,900 |
| NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1959 | 7,800 |
| BEACON HILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1966 | 7,700 |
| NECK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1914 | 7,500 |
| RIPPOWAM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 7,470 |
| EDSON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1950 | 7,400 |
| MAD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 7,300 |
| EAST ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 7,300 |
| WEPAWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1936 | 7,200 |
| WEST RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 7,100 |
| WINTERGREEN BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 7,000 |
| WEST BRANCH TROUT BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1916 | 7,000 |
| SALMON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 6,730 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 6,505 |
| INDIAN MEADOW BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 6,200 |
| DENISON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 6,200 |
| HARBOR BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1871 | 6,186 |
| NEDS BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 6,100 |
| MAD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1906 | 6,000 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 5,900 |
| ROARING BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 5,700 |
| ROGERS POND | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 5,700 |
| SHEPARD BROOK & RR TRAIL | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 5,690 |
| PAWCATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 5,562 |
| TEN MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 5,500 |
| FARM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 5,500 |
| WHITING RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 5,400 |
| MORGAN BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 5,400 |
| SHUNOCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 5,200 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 5,120 |
| COPPER MINE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 5,054 |
| QUINNIPIAC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1963 | 4,900 |
| CHATFIELD HOLLOW BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 4,800 |
| FENTON RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,700 |
| NONEWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 4,500 |
| KNOWLTON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,400 |
| MIANUS RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 4,390 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 4,386 |
| SPRUCE SWAMP CREEK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 4,300 |
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.