Scour Critical Bridges in North Carolina

130 bridges in North Carolina 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 130 bridges in North Carolina have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
SOUTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	9,800
TUCKASEGEE RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1969	9,800
UPCHURCHES POND	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1984	9,200
SUGAR CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1980	8,800
SECOND BROAD RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1921	8,700
LOVILLS CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1969	8,250
TAR RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1982	8,100
HAW RIVER & SO. RAILWAY	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1990	7,800
LITTLE SWIFT CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	7,100
ROCKY RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	6,600
NE CAPE FEAR RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1948	5,700
BR. LITTLE CONTENTNEA CR	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1956	5,500
SCOTT CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1973	5,000
CLARK CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1964	4,500
CONTENTNEA CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1975	3,900
NEUSE RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	3,400
DURHAM CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	3,300
DISMAL SWAMP CANAL	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1934	3,200
HINTON CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1955	2,900
DEEP CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	2,900
NORTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1938	2,900
DAN RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1955	2,900
SMYRE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	2,600
MAYO RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1965	2,600
HOGANS CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1967	2,600
GOLD BRANCH	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1955	2,500
CODDLE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	2,500
POLE CAT CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	2,500
CROATAN SOUND	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1955	2,400
BALLS CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1982	2,300
GRASSY BRANCH	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	2,200
BUSHY FORK CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1961	1,700
MULBERRY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1973	1,600
TAR RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1956	1,600
UT TO PIGEON RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1951	1,500
FRENCH BROAD RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1964	1,500
RAYS MILL CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1958	1,200
UT TO RICHLAND CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1951	1,100
FORK OF REEDS CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1956	1,000
THIRD CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	1,000
MUDDY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1983	1,000
BUTTERMILK CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1986	950
YADKIN RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1979	950
GREEN RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1980	900
STANLEY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1983	850
DAN RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1957	850
FRENCH BROAD RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	790
ELK RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1963	700
FIFTH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1969	700
HOYLE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1982	570

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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