Scour Critical Bridges in Connecticut
279 bridges in Connecticut 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 279 bridges in Connecticut have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST BRANCH SALMON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,985 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 1,930 |
| MUDDY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,924 |
| CHERRY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1956 | 1,900 |
| INDIAN POND CREEK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 1,829 |
| NORWALK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,810 |
| NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,800 |
| HOP BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1995 | 1,800 |
| WEEKEEPEEMEE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 1,700 |
| SHETUCKET RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 1,700 |
| DEEP RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,680 |
| FENTON RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 1,550 |
| BRANFORD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2004 | 1,525 |
| NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 1,500 |
| TANKERHOOSEN RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2007 | 1,500 |
| CADY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 1,398 |
| SCANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,300 |
| FARMILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 1,265 |
| BLACKWELL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 1,208 |
| YANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 1,200 |
| HOLLENBECK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1991 | 1,200 |
| BLACKLEDGE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 1,200 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 1,125 |
| WIMISINK BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 1,100 |
| HOUSATONIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1841 | 1,100 |
| SANDY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 1,100 |
| NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,100 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 1,019 |
| PEQUONNOCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1979 | 1,009 |
| FARM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 1,004 |
| YANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 1,000 |
| WEST BRANCH SAUGATUCK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 950 |
| MERRICK BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1970 | 945 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1912 | 914 |
| EAST ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1985 | 908 |
| LITTLE JACKS BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 898 |
| ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 885 |
| JEPP BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2013 | 850 |
| EIGHT MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 836 |
| BUNGEE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 750 |
| MILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 700 |
| SAMMIS BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1990 | 673 |
| INDIAN POND CREEK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 670 |
| MORGAN BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 660 |
| SCANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 654 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2000 | 650 |
| WILLIMANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 629 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1870 | 600 |
| BANTAM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 585 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1914 | 572 |
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.