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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 2,420 |
| LITTLE VINCE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1982 | 2,418 |
| HOLLIDAY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 2,418 |
| SAN MIGUEL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1978 | 2,415 |
| MICHIGAN CREEK | New York | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 2,411 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1970 | 2,406 |
| RESACA DE LOS FRESNOS | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 2,393 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1927 | 2,390 |
| BRUSHY CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 2,377 |
| REEDER CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 2,377 |
| RIGGS RD/LTL WHT OAK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1999 | 2,377 |
| SHEFFIELD CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 2,377 |
| BEAR PEN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1963 | 2,370 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1970 | 2,354 |
| MILL BRANCH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1954 | 2,350 |
| WILLOW WATERHOLE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1953 | 2,335 |
| MIDDLE SULPHUR RIV | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1959 | 2,327 |
| MIDDLE SULPHUR REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1959 | 2,327 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 2,327 |
| COTTONWOOD RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1951 | 2,325 |
| SANDERS CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1951 | 2,325 |
| SANDERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1988 | 2,325 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1988 | 2,325 |
| SPRING CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1988 | 2,320 |
| OAK RIDGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 2,309 |
| CHINQUAPIN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1950 | 2,306 |
| Hondo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 2,300 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 2,292 |
| WOLF CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1961 | 2,289 |
| WOLF CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1974 | 2,286 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 2,285 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 2,278 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1927 | 2,277 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 2,277 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1970 | 2,272 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 2,268 |
| CHIMNEY ROCK DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1966 | 2,260 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 2,252 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2010 | 2,250 |
| STEWARTS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1980 | 2,246 |
| LEON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 2,241 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1981 | 2,228 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK REL #1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1981 | 2,228 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK REL #2 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1981 | 2,228 |
| LICK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1986 | 2,225 |
| CHAMBERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1981 | 2,219 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1931 | 2,211 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1961 | 2,210 |
| WATER STONY BROOK | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1850 | 2,208 |
| UNNAMED CREEK NO 1 | Mississippi | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 2,200 |
Scour Critical Bridges by State
States ranked by number of scour critical bridges.
| State | Scour Critical | Unaddressed | Countermeasures | Ineffective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 — 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.