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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCMICHAEL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 726 |
| BIG ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1938 | 725 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1908 | 721 |
| PICKERING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1879 | 719 |
| LITTLE SEWICKLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1926 | 718 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 716 |
| TRIB DUNNING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 715 |
| CHERRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 713 |
| TRIB TO CHERRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 713 |
| FISHING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 710 |
| RILEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1957 | 709 |
| TRIB MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 703 |
| OVER PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 703 |
| Little Conestoga Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 701 |
| DONEGAL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 700 |
| SCHLEGEL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 700 |
| BEAVER DAM RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 700 |
| IVES RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1979 | 700 |
| SUTTON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 700 |
| WEST MONOCACY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 700 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1973 | 700 |
| DAVIDSBURG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 700 |
| GIST RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 698 |
| IRON MINE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 696 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1943 | 693 |
| MAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 692 |
| LONG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 691 |
| QUEMAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 690 |
| NORTH FORK KINGS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1930 | 687 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 687 |
| CUSHION CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1939 | 686 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 682 |
| MAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 677 |
| STONY CREEK RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 677 |
| TOMS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1901 | 675 |
| HONEY BRK.W.BR.BRANDYWIN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 668 |
| ROCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 667 |
| OVER MITCHELL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 666 |
| LITTLE CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 650 |
| MOSELEM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1921 | 649 |
| OVER OIL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 648 |
| SOUTH BR. SWATARA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 648 |
| HOKENDAUQUA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 647 |
| GOOSE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 646 |
| BR OF LITTLE CHARTIERS C | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1943 | 645 |
| LONG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1957 | 643 |
| OVER MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1941 | 637 |
| DOE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 636 |
| S.GLADE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 636 |
| KISHACOQUILLAS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 628 |
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.