Scour Critical Bridges in Minnesota

257 bridges in Minnesota 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 257 bridges in Minnesota have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
ST AUGUSTA CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1925	1
TROUT CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2022	1
SHOTLEY BROOK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1917	1
E BR BEAVER RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2023	1
PINE CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	2007	1
Mississippi River	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	81,500
MINN RIVER; TRAIL	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1976	39,000
CANNON RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1954	15,200
CEDAR RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1958	11,649
COON CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1990	11,229
BOIS DE SIOUX RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1930	9,650
MINNESOTA RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1978	6,924
STREAM	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1978	6,889
COTTONWOOD RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1983	6,200
W RIVER RD; MISS RIV	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1923	6,100
MISSISSIPPI RIVER; ST	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	6,033
TURTLE CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	5,698
ROCK RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	5,696
ROCK RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	5,696
SEELYE BROOK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1984	5,661
SNAKE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1976	5,576
CHIPPEWA RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1955	5,000
MISS RVR RR STREETS	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1941	4,905
ELK RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	4,450
ELK RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	4,400
RICE CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1988	4,193
SNAKE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1980	3,750
N FK CROW RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1941	3,710
MISSISSIPPI RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	2,550
ST AUGUSTA CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1935	2,533
PLATTE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	2,350
CHIPPEWA RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1971	2,135
WATONWAN RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1974	1,950
ST CROIX RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1984	1,839
W BR RUM RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1974	1,700
WATSON SAG CHANNEL	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1988	1,651
POMME DE TERRE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	1,627
W BR RUM RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	1,550
WATONWAN RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	1,500
ST JAMES CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1996	1,500
YELLOW MEDICINE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1972	1,439
MAPLE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1979	1,400
ROOT RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1988	1,397
S FK ROOT RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1948	1,386
S BR WILD RICE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1948	1,336
RUM RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1969	1,300
COTTONWOOD RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1938	1,300
PRAIRIE RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1980	1,250
PIGEON RIVER	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	1,198
HIGH ISLAND CREEK	Minnesota	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1941	1,165

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.

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