Scour Critical Bridges in Washington
516 bridges in Washington 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 516 bridges in Washington have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 5,692 |
| STEMILT CR. | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 5,578 |
| LITTLE KLICKITAT RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 5,532 |
| LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 5,394 |
| KENDALL CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 5,312 |
| COWEEMAN RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 5,285 |
| LAWTON CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1925 | 5,270 |
| DESCHUTES RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1943 | 5,190 |
| TOUCHET RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 5,054 |
| BAKER RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1972 | 5,032 |
| HOLDER CR | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 5,021 |
| W FK NOOKACHAMPS CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1952 | 4,825 |
| ABERNATHY CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 4,787 |
| H W CHANNEL METHOW R | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1945 | 4,775 |
| NEWAUKUM CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 4,723 |
| PUGET SOUND @ PT VASHON | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1997 | 4,675 |
| DEER CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1972 | 4,618 |
| TOUCHET RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1966 | 4,556 |
| WILKESON CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1967 | 4,521 |
| OKANOGAN RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 4,504 |
| SMITH CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,478 |
| ELKHORN CR | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,478 |
| ASOTIN CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1956 | 4,450 |
| SALMON CR | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,290 |
| MARION DRAIN CANAL | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1931 | 4,257 |
| NACHES RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 4,150 |
| DUNGENESS RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 4,147 |
| N FK NOOKSACK RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 4,066 |
| CHEHALIS RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 4,044 |
| SOL DUC RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 4,018 |
| KUSSHI CR | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1945 | 4,013 |
| CHELATCHIE CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1953 | 4,008 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1958 | 4,008 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 3,925 |
| APPLE TREE COVE | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 3,866 |
| LAKE CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 3,805 |
| PUGET SOUND @ SEATTLE | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 3,800 |
| RATTLESNAKE CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1947 | 3,793 |
| COLUMBIA R | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 3,767 |
| CHEWUCH RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 3,696 |
| NEWAUKUM CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 3,694 |
| PUGET SOUND @ SOUTHWORTH | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2003 | 3,681 |
| SINCLAIR INLET | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 3,600 |
| WASHOUGAL RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 3,589 |
| BOULDER CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1962 | 3,586 |
| BIG QUILCENE RIVER | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 3,525 |
| SALT CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 3,493 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 3,433 |
| SHIP HBR/GUEMES CHANNEL | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 3,227 |
| SHIP HBR/GUEMES CHANNEL | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1959 | 3,227 |
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.