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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUGSER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 521 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 520 |
| DELAWARE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 520 |
| WHITE OAK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 520 |
| LITTLE CONESTOGA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 520 |
| OCTORARO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 518 |
| W BR CONOCOCHEAGUE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1907 | 518 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 515 |
| HICKORY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 512 |
| MECK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 505 |
| OVER MORRISON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 505 |
| PIG PEN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 502 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 501 |
| TRIB TO LEHIGH RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 500 |
| FALLEN TIMBER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1951 | 500 |
| CATASAUQUA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 500 |
| Zacharias Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 500 |
| MCCREARY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2009 | 500 |
| LONG ARM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 500 |
| SACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 500 |
| OVER SUGARCREEK TRIB. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1924 | 500 |
| WEST BRANCH SUGAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 500 |
| CATFISH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 500 |
| ROBBS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1922 | 500 |
| RACCOON CREEK TRIB | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 500 |
| LICKING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 500 |
| MAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1971 | 500 |
| Little Sewickley Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2006 | 500 |
| Little Sewickley Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1923 | 500 |
| LITTLE MAHANTANGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 500 |
| Trib of Zacharias Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 500 |
| OPOSSUM RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 500 |
| DUNLAP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1963 | 500 |
| Long Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1990 | 500 |
| HUNTER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2003 | 500 |
| TURTLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 500 |
| CEDAR SPRING RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 500 |
| LITTLE LEHIGH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 500 |
| PIKE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1887 | 500 |
| LITTLE CONESTOGA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1873 | 500 |
| BRUSH RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 500 |
| OWL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 500 |
| BECK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 500 |
| CHARTIERS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1947 | 500 |
| LOBBS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 499 |
| E. BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1931 | 499 |
| OVER HOTCH KISS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1951 | 495 |
| POLECAT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1973 | 492 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1915 | 491 |
| BR OF CANOE CAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1966 | 491 |
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.