Scour Critical Bridges in Tennessee

581 bridges in Tennessee 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 581 bridges in Tennessee have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
CULVERT BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1925	9,234
DOUBLE BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	9,213
SUMROW CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	9,213
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1958	9,213
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	9,213
SUMROW CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	9,213
DOUBLE BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	9,213
WOLF RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1949	8,449
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	8,367
FRANKS BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1956	8,054
PINEY CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1956	7,993
ROCK CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	7,783
WEST BEAVER CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1955	7,621
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	7,620
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	7,620
EMORY RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1992	7,216
CHAMBERS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	7,175
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	7,042
OVERFLOW	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1983	6,835
OVERFLOW	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1983	6,835
NORTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1983	6,505
S. FK. FORKED DEER RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1931	6,381
JACKS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1931	6,381
CLOVER CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1974	6,118
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	6,075
HUNTING CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	5,761
SPRING CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1926	5,674
SPRING CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1930	5,658
CYPRESS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1981	5,631
OVERFLOW	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	5,624
OVERFLOW	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	5,624
BIG SANDY RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	5,624
OVERFLOW	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	5,624
MIDDLE CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1951	5,610
N. FORK WHITE OAK CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1958	5,579
SAM BISHOP DITCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1958	5,579
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1925	5,411
BIRD CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1959	5,400
CYPRESS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	5,393
LOOSAHATCHIE RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1947	5,388
CANE CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1935	5,309
CUB CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1973	5,257
HICKS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1973	5,192
BIRDSONG CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1975	5,176
BIRDSONG CREEK OVERFLOW	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1975	5,176
RICHLAND CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1974	5,170
BIG SANDY RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1986	5,165
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1940	5,073
MOUNTAIN CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1954	4,984
WEST SANDY CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	4,939

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.

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