Scour Critical Bridges in Connecticut
279 bridges in Connecticut 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 279 bridges in Connecticut have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QUINEBAUG RIVER & CANAL | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 4,300 |
| PACHAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 4,214 |
| SHEPAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 4,200 |
| MASHAMOQUET BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 4,200 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1908 | 4,100 |
| W BRANCH SAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 4,000 |
| SPRUCE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 4,000 |
| SECOND HILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 3,900 |
| STONY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 3,820 |
| FRENCH RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 3,800 |
| NORWALK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 3,790 |
| POCOTOPAUG CREEK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2009 | 3,718 |
| PORTER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1871 | 3,600 |
| SASCO BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1973 | 3,540 |
| SUMNER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 3,433 |
| PEQUONNOCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 3,343 |
| MAD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 3,340 |
| MAD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 3,340 |
| ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 3,200 |
| SASCO BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 3,090 |
| NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1956 | 3,067 |
| SHEPAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 3,000 |
| PEQUONNOCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 3,000 |
| NECK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 2,996 |
| QUAKER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 2,900 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 2,900 |
| CARR BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 2,900 |
| SUMNER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 2,892 |
| HAMMONASSET RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 2,833 |
| SALMON CREEK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 2,800 |
| E BRANCH NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 2,780 |
| WEST BR. BANTAM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 2,700 |
| EIGHT MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1986 | 2,700 |
| EAST BRANCH SALMON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 2,630 |
| POCOTOPAUG CREEK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 2,600 |
| QUINEBAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 2,600 |
| BEACON HILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1933 | 2,600 |
| BELDEN BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 2,500 |
| GUINEA BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1933 | 2,200 |
| RACE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1946 | 2,200 |
| GUNN BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 2,100 |
| HOLLENBECK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 2,100 |
| BLACKLEDGE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 2,100 |
| ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 2,070 |
| SASCO BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 2,030 |
| NORWALK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 2,010 |
| STILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 2,000 |
| POLAND RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 2,000 |
| POLAND RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 2,000 |
| LAKE WHITNEY | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 2,000 |
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.