Scour Critical Bridges in Maine
140 bridges in Maine 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 140 bridges in Maine have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. BR. MEDUX. R. | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 840 |
| KENNEBEC RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 833 |
| MOLUNKUS STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 802 |
| BAKER (PETERSON) BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 784 |
| FRENCH STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 779 |
| MESSALONSKEE STR | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 767 |
| BLACK STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 738 |
| W BR SHEEPSCOT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 735 |
| CHANDLER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 730 |
| ST GEORGE RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 720 |
| MARSH STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 704 |
| BLACK BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 702 |
| EBHORSE STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 666 |
| ALDER STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 632 |
| ALDER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 630 |
| SHEEPSCOT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 623 |
| MARTIN STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 599 |
| OSSIPEE RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 570 |
| PISCATAQUIS RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 543 |
| LOVEJOY POND OUTLET | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 540 |
| LITTLE MADAWASKA RV | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 538 |
| OLAMON STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 533 |
| OGUNQUIT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 530 |
| PENNESEEWASSEE STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 520 |
| OSSIPEE RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 500 |
| STEVENS BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1947 | 435 |
| VALLEY BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 429 |
| WYTOPITLOCK STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 384 |
| BEAN BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 370 |
| MIDDLE BR MOUSAM RIVR | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 352 |
| CROOKED RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 351 |
| SOUTH BOG STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 308 |
| GREAT WORKS RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 294 |
| THREE BROOKS | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 262 |
| OTTER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 260 |
| PRESTILE STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 250 |
| LITTLE MOLUNKUS STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 241 |
| SHEEPSCOT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 228 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1985 | 220 |
| W BR SHEEPSCOT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1962 | 206 |
| CHANDLER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 203 |
| MICHAEL BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 200 |
| CONCORD RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 199 |
| SANDY STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 192 |
| STONY BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 191 |
| COLD RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 186 |
| PLEASANT POND STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1945 | 180 |
| E BR SEBASTICOOK R | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 158 |
| SEBOEIS STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 154 |
| POND STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1949 | 145 |
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.