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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CANOE CAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 491 |
| NAYLORS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 490 |
| HUBER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 490 |
| JOHNSON POND CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 489 |
| OVER COLD SPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 486 |
| OVER DECKARDS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 484 |
| OVER BIG RUN TRIB | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1914 | 483 |
| RIDGE VALLEY CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 482 |
| BRANCH MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 480 |
| MUDLICK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 478 |
| SOUTH BRANCH PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 478 |
| WEST BRANCH COXES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1945 | 477 |
| HIGGINS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1908 | 477 |
| PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 477 |
| W.BRANCH PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 476 |
| OVER QUENSHUKENY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 476 |
| E BR WOLF CREEK TRIB. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1939 | 472 |
| MILE BROOK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1938 | 471 |
| OVER WHITE DEER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1958 | 470 |
| OVER LITTLE BUFFALO CRK. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 470 |
| TRIB. MAHANTANGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 469 |
| Inlet to Lake Quinn | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 468 |
| HALF MOON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1908 | 467 |
| OCTORARO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1880 | 466 |
| PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1898 | 464 |
| TROUT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1924 | 461 |
| DRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 460 |
| KERN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 460 |
| COOPERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 457 |
| LATIMORE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 454 |
| FRTOWN.BR.JUNIATA RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 451 |
| OVER OIL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1892 | 451 |
| OVER LOGAN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 451 |
| WICONISCO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 450 |
| HEMLOCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 450 |
| OVER MC GUIRE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 450 |
| WEST SKIPPACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 450 |
| SAND HILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 450 |
| MARSH RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 450 |
| OVER WATSON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 448 |
| OVER WATSON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 448 |
| OVER SILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 447 |
| SOUTH BRANCH PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 447 |
| OVER CONNEAUT CREEK E BR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 445 |
| LITTLE BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 444 |
| W BR.CHILLISQUAQUE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1943 | 441 |
| BIG PUCKETA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 440 |
| WOLF CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1944 | 438 |
| BLACKLEGS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 438 |
| BIRCH RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1923 | 432 |
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.