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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE SCHUYLKILL RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 431 |
| MAIDEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 430 |
| CODORUS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 430 |
| COCOLAMUS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 429 |
| LATIMORE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 427 |
| MCMICHAEL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1986 | 427 |
| BRANCH JOHNSON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 427 |
| OVER MILLERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 423 |
| OVER STONY FORK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 421 |
| FIDDLE LAKE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1959 | 421 |
| S. BRANCH OF MAPLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 420 |
| LITTLE CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1968 | 420 |
| STEWART CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 419 |
| OVER CONNEAUT CREEK W BR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 417 |
| TACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 415 |
| WEST BR. RED CLAY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 415 |
| TRIB. TO PENNS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 415 |
| CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 415 |
| CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 415 |
| CABALA RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 414 |
| ALPHA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 411 |
| ELDERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 411 |
| EVITTS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 410 |
| TR.EVITTS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 410 |
| CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 410 |
| DEEP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 410 |
| TRIB.TO SAUCON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 410 |
| SINNEMAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 408 |
| PINE CREEK NORTH BRANCH | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 406 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1804 | 406 |
| MAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 403 |
| TOMS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 402 |
| OVER CONNEAUT CREEK W BR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 402 |
| NORTH BR. NESHAMANY CRK. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 400 |
| BRANCH OF NESHAMINY CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 400 |
| MONOCACY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1911 | 400 |
| LILLIBRIDGE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1957 | 400 |
| HAGERMANS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 400 |
| LITTLE MAHANTANGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2009 | 400 |
| S BR CODORUS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1909 | 400 |
| TRIB N BR BERMUDIAN CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 400 |
| NANCY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1958 | 400 |
| DUNBAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 400 |
| E BR LITTLE ANTIETAM CRE | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 400 |
| Green Lick Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 400 |
| HAYMAKER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 400 |
| TRIB TO PIGEON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 400 |
| TOAD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1966 | 400 |
| LITTLE LEHIGH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 400 |
| SOUTH BR. SAUCON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 400 |
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.