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
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1955 3,357
R.O.W. Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2016 3,335
Cottonwood Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2020 3,324
VINCE BAYOU Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1976 3,320
HCFCD DITCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1960 3,320
Willow Bayou Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2024 3,317
BERRY CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1978 3,310
HCFCD DITCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2015 3,310
N HICKORY CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2007 3,309
BIG SANDY CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1954 3,307
OYSTER CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2003 3,300
MUD RIVER West Virginia Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1976 3,300
RAWSON CANAL Idaho Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2024 3,300
CEDAR CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2003 3,296
BIG CEDAR CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2003 3,296
CEDAR CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1959 3,296
RESACA DE LOS FRESNOS Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2006 3,295
BR OF SALT CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1986 3,286
WEST ROWLETT CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1999 3,274
RED RIVER Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 2013 3,269
LITTLE LAKE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1982 3,263
OVERFLOW BLUFF CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 3,255
LONG CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1928 3,255
BLUFF CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 3,255
LITTLE WICHITA RIVER REL Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1931 3,255
LITTLE WICHITA RIVER REL Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1930 3,255
WHEELER CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1983 3,246
Coon Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1981 3,240
GOFF BRANCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1938 3,235
DRAINAGE DITCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1985 3,224
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1967 3,217
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1967 3,217
WILLOW CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1960 3,210
TRIB OF HUANA CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 2001 3,207
RESACA DE LOS FRESNOS Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2007 3,206
FALLEN ASH CREEK Arkansas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 3,200
CHAMBERS CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1938 3,200
PUMPKIN VINE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1934 3,180
DRAINAGE DITCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1989 3,165
BERRY CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1986 3,150
Arroyo Tigre Grande Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1953 3,137
WHITE OAK CR Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2007 3,135
BOONS CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1931 3,117
SIESTEDERO CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1938 3,112
BLACK STUMP HOLLOW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1938 3,112
SMITH BRANCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1938 3,112
LIVE OAK CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1938 3,112
NORTH MAIN DRAIN Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1987 3,108
MOUNTAIN BROOK Vermont Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1928 3,100
TOWNSEND CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1937 3,093

Scour Critical Bridges by State

States ranked by number of scour critical bridges.

StateScour CriticalUnaddressedCountermeasuresIneffective
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 — UnaddressedBridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken.
Code 3 — Countermeasures InstalledProtective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical.
Code 6 — Countermeasures IneffectiveProtective 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.