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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARMSTRONG CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 75 |
| N FORK POWELL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1976 | 75 |
| Blue Hole Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 75 |
| SUNNY BROOK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1956 | 75 |
| Welty Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 75 |
| KEEN LAKE INLET | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1942 | 75 |
| LITTLE TUSCARORA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1938 | 75 |
| MEADOW CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1915 | 75 |
| LITTLE SHAMOKIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 75 |
| LAUREL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 75 |
| Thompson Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 75 |
| S BR OF MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 75 |
| W. BR. MAHANTANGO | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 75 |
| SALT LICK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 75 |
| Little Wapwallopen Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 75 |
| STARRUCCA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1945 | 75 |
| OVER WINTON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 75 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 75 |
| TENMILE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 75 |
| SPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 73 |
| SOUTH BR OF FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1913 | 73 |
| TOMS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 71 |
| JONES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 70 |
| BRANCH BIG ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1963 | 70 |
| KRATZER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 70 |
| NESCOPECK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 70 |
| CHERRY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 68 |
| DUNKARD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 66 |
| LITTLE MAHANTANGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 66 |
| WHEELER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 66 |
| WILCOX CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 65 |
| SACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1905 | 65 |
| CARLEY BROOK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 65 |
| OVER REYNOLDS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 65 |
| N BR MUDDY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 64 |
| SIX MILE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 62 |
| Turkey Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 62 |
| MEADOW RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1919 | 62 |
| EQUINUNK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1895 | 60 |
| LICK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1905 | 60 |
| TOBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 60 |
| BROWNS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1903 | 60 |
| TRIB. OF YOUGH. RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 60 |
| HARMON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 60 |
| PINE CREEK NORTH BRANCH | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 59 |
| RUFF CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1915 | 57 |
| TRIB SHAFFER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 56 |
| BRADY RUN (S BRANCH) | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1856 | 55 |
| Meadow Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1904 | 55 |
| GREGS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1900 | 55 |
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.