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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHERRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 355 |
| OVER BASKIN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 354 |
| LYON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 351 |
| LYON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 351 |
| QUEMAHONING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1917 | 350 |
| Rankin Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 350 |
| GARRETTS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 350 |
| FURNACE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 350 |
| LIZARD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 350 |
| OVER KINGS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 350 |
| DRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 350 |
| LITTLE MARTINS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 350 |
| TOMS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 350 |
| Aquetong Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 350 |
| LITTLE MARTINS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1911 | 350 |
| OVER MEAD RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2001 | 347 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 347 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1966 | 345 |
| CONEWAGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 344 |
| OVER HARTS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 340 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 336 |
| LICKING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 334 |
| OVER THORNBOTTOM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 333 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 330 |
| OVER LITTLE SUGAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 330 |
| OVER TOWNLEY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 324 |
| KERSHNERS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 320 |
| TOBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 320 |
| PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1860 | 320 |
| DUNKARD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 320 |
| OVER SHANERBURG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 318 |
| Otter Creek Branch | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 318 |
| THOMPSON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1954 | 317 |
| OVER SHAMOKIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 317 |
| BILLINGS MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 317 |
| SACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 316 |
| ECKERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 316 |
| SUGAR GROVE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 316 |
| GEDDES RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1906 | 314 |
| BLACKLEGS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1939 | 313 |
| RAYMONDSKILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 312 |
| DRIFTWOOD BRANCH | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 310 |
| OVER MOSEY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 310 |
| W BR DONEGAL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 310 |
| DELLINGER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1992 | 310 |
| LITTLE MANATAWNY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1923 | 307 |
| BUCK & DOE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1937 | 307 |
| CHERRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 306 |
| BR OF S BR TUNKHANNOCK C | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 301 |
| LITTLE BUSHKILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1931 | 300 |
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.