Scour Critical Bridges
23,522 bridges across the US 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 23,522 bridges have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1977 | 7,330 |
| MUSTANG BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1984 | 7,314 |
| GREENS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1982 | 7,304 |
| DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 7,300 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1984 | 7,285 |
| HONDO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1939 | 7,271 |
| Drain | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1964 | 7,270 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1943 | 7,270 |
| MENARD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 7,262 |
| CANEY CR REL 1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 7,261 |
| CANEY CR REL 3 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 7,261 |
| CANEY CR REL 2 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 7,261 |
| CANEY CR REL 4 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 7,261 |
| COOPER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1987 | 7,250 |
| MERCEDES MAIN CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 7,236 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1973 | 7,213 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1925 | 7,213 |
| DRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 7,211 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1995 | 7,197 |
| HALLS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1965 | 7,171 |
| HILL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1946 | 7,168 |
| HIGH CREEK 1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1946 | 7,168 |
| MCFARLAND CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1946 | 7,168 |
| PINE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1946 | 7,168 |
| HIGH CREEK 2 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1946 | 7,168 |
| Drainage Ditch | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1958 | 7,166 |
| BR OF MOUND CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1980 | 7,148 |
| POTTER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1968 | 7,145 |
| HOLLIDAY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1938 | 7,118 |
| SPRNG CK SH 99 HARDYTL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2016 | 7,113 |
| LINDSEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1952 | 7,098 |
| Rio Grande River | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 7,084 |
| NOLTON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1939 | 7,048 |
| DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1930 | 7,041 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1983 | 7,025 |
| WILLOW WATERHOLE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 7,025 |
| DRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1966 | 7,019 |
| BUFFALO BYU TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 7,000 |
| PODUNK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 7,000 |
| WHITE OAK CR | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 7,000 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 6,996 |
| DRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 6,989 |
| WHITE ROCK CREEK REL #4 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1950 | 6,988 |
| JONES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1982 | 6,944 |
| RESACA DE LOS FRESNOS | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 6,938 |
| Woody Branch | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1965 | 6,928 |
| BAKER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1965 | 6,924 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 6,911 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1966 | 6,910 |
| RIO GRANDE RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1969 | 6,900 |
Scour Critical Bridges by State
States ranked by number of scour critical bridges.
| State | Scour Critical | Unaddressed | Countermeasures | Ineffective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,912 | 75 | 516 | 3,321 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,233 | 45 | 2,187 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 1,302 | 13 | 1,288 | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1,263 | 0 | 1,217 | 46 |
| Oregon | 1,231 | 4 | 1,221 | 6 |
| Michigan | 1,081 | 14 | 1,062 | 5 |
| Nebraska | 962 | 224 | 732 | 6 |
| New York | 864 | 9 | 780 | 75 |
| Indiana | 756 | 7 | 749 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 751 | 0 | 748 | 3 |
| Kansas | 638 | 9 | 626 | 3 |
| California | 623 | 27 | 562 | 34 |
| Tennessee | 581 | 12 | 569 | 0 |
| Washington | 516 | 14 | 487 | 15 |
| Puerto Rico | 496 | 9 | 487 | 0 |
| Alabama | 450 | 1 | 423 | 26 |
| Iowa | 392 | 3 | 385 | 4 |
| New Jersey | 362 | 2 | 360 | 0 |
| Florida | 357 | 4 | 339 | 14 |
| Oklahoma | 317 | 33 | 283 | 1 |
| Missouri | 312 | 4 | 307 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 301 | 6 | 286 | 9 |
| Connecticut | 279 | 0 | 276 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 257 | 38 | 202 | 17 |
| Vermont | 242 | 0 | 240 | 2 |
| Colorado | 241 | 3 | 238 | 0 |
| Idaho | 215 | 18 | 186 | 11 |
| South Dakota | 207 | 3 | 203 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 187 | 3 | 129 | 55 |
| Massachusetts | 166 | 15 | 106 | 45 |
| Montana | 166 | 13 | 140 | 13 |
| Arizona | 164 | 2 | 160 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 160 | 2 | 98 | 60 |
| Alaska | 159 | 1 | 146 | 12 |
| Maine | 140 | 13 | 126 | 1 |
| North Carolina | 130 | 9 | 105 | 16 |
| New Mexico | 127 | 4 | 114 | 9 |
| North Dakota | 102 | 14 | 87 | 1 |
| Utah | 100 | 6 | 82 | 12 |
| Georgia | 99 | 1 | 81 | 17 |
| Illinois | 99 | 3 | 85 | 11 |
| Nevada | 94 | 0 | 85 | 9 |
| Rhode Island | 94 | 0 | 93 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 86 | 2 | 78 | 6 |
| Hawaii | 83 | 0 | 82 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 56 | 16 | 39 | 1 |
| Maryland | 54 | 1 | 51 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 51 | 1 | 48 | 2 |
| Delaware | 39 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Ohio | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Virginia | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
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.