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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHANNON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 250 |
| Munnell Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1976 | 250 |
| LITTLE SHAMOKIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 250 |
| PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1905 | 250 |
| SWAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 250 |
| STONY RUN (HILLEGAS RUN) | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 250 |
| CHERRY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 249 |
| ACKERLY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 248 |
| FIVEMILE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 247 |
| ROARING RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 246 |
| W BR OCTORARO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 245 |
| RUMMERFIELD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1961 | 244 |
| RUMMERFIELD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 244 |
| TRIB W BR LACKAWAX RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 244 |
| BLACKLEGS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 241 |
| Yellow Creek Branch | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 241 |
| TUSCARORA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1938 | 240 |
| FOREST LAKE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1949 | 240 |
| BACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 240 |
| FOREST LAKE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 240 |
| BRANCH OF SKIPPACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 240 |
| OVER MUDDY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 239 |
| HALLOWING RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 238 |
| LOYALHANNA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 238 |
| OVER BUCKS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 236 |
| BLACKS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 236 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 235 |
| LITTLE TOBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1911 | 234 |
| FINDLAY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 231 |
| SACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1900 | 230 |
| LITTLE MUNCY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 228 |
| BIG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 227 |
| TRIB TO LAKE CAREY | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 227 |
| PINE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 227 |
| BR.TOWN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 226 |
| PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 225 |
| FELLS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 225 |
| PORTAGE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 225 |
| BOWMANS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1933 | 224 |
| CRUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1956 | 224 |
| BRANCH TUNKHANNOCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 221 |
| TRIB LITTLE SWATARA CK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 220 |
| TOBYS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 220 |
| PINEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1909 | 219 |
| CHERRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1938 | 218 |
| RAYSTOWN BR JUNIATA RIV | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 218 |
| BR CONOWINGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2005 | 215 |
| TRIB TO CROOKED CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 214 |
| Saul Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 214 |
| OVER FRENCH CREEK TRIB | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1904 | 213 |
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.