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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONOY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 628 |
| PEQUEA CREEK TRIB | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 625 |
| FISHING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 624 |
| PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 624 |
| CARLEY BROOK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 623 |
| CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 620 |
| LITTLE CONESTOGA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 620 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 620 |
| TEMPLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 610 |
| NEWMYER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 610 |
| TRIB. TO COCOLAMUS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 610 |
| TWO MILE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2012 | 605 |
| UNT Laurel Fork | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 603 |
| IRISH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 600 |
| CENTERVILLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 600 |
| MACOBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 600 |
| CONOCOCHEAGUE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 600 |
| SWAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1860 | 595 |
| SWAMP CREEK / 2585-J10 | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1852 | 595 |
| TUNKHANNOCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 591 |
| NINEMILE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1926 | 580 |
| SPRING RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 578 |
| PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 578 |
| OVER LT CONNEAUTTEE CK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 575 |
| OVER KIANTONE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 574 |
| BR OF S BR CALKINS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 573 |
| PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 571 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 570 |
| LITTLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 562 |
| BIEBER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1961 | 557 |
| OVER COOL SPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 552 |
| Little Sewickley Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 550 |
| GOODSPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 550 |
| YORK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1931 | 550 |
| OVER ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1955 | 549 |
| OVER ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 549 |
| MORRIS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1902 | 544 |
| MARVIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 544 |
| MONROE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 542 |
| W.BR.SUSQUEHANNA RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1915 | 540 |
| MOUNTAIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 539 |
| LITTLE BUSHKILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 537 |
| WEST BR MAHANTANGO CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 536 |
| OVER OIL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1956 | 533 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1933 | 529 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 529 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 529 |
| FIELDBROOK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 525 |
| BRANCH OF VALLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2001 | 525 |
| LITTLE ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1919 | 524 |
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.