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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHUYLKILL RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 135 |
| WILDCAT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 134 |
| EAST FORK WILDCAT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1975 | 134 |
| HOFFMAN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 134 |
| HORTON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 134 |
| COXES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1973 | 134 |
| MCKEES RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 133 |
| NORTH FORK PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 133 |
| RED RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 133 |
| STONEY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1924 | 132 |
| LITTLE NESCOPECK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 130 |
| DYBERRY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 129 |
| HOFFER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 127 |
| JACOBS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 127 |
| TOMS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 126 |
| TWELVEMILE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 125 |
| ELK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 125 |
| TWO MILE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1903 | 123 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 122 |
| E BR SIDELING HILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 121 |
| OVER COLD RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1945 | 121 |
| OVER PINE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 121 |
| HULING RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 120 |
| SHOBERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 120 |
| KEGG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 120 |
| TRIBUTARY TO MUD RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1921 | 120 |
| LITTLE MESHOPPEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 120 |
| BLACKLEGS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1979 | 120 |
| OVER BLACKS CR. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 119 |
| BIG SEWICKLEY CREEK EB | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1891 | 118 |
| OVER HAZELTINE HOLLW RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 118 |
| SHERMANS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 117 |
| SACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1869 | 113 |
| FURNACE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1908 | 112 |
| MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 112 |
| THOMAS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 112 |
| TRIB TO FRENCH CK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1950 | 110 |
| TRIB. PAXTON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 110 |
| ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1918 | 109 |
| NORTH FORK BENS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 109 |
| NORTH BRANCH TOWANDA CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1967 | 108 |
| SLACKS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 108 |
| PLEASANT STREAM | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 108 |
| WHITE DEER HOLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 108 |
| WHITE DEER HOLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 108 |
| E. BR. CHILLISQUAQUE CK. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1909 | 108 |
| MIDDLE BR CHILLISQUAQ CR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 108 |
| CUSSEWAGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 106 |
| POHOPOCO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1971 | 106 |
| STONY FORK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 105 |
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.