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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 550 |
| EAST BRANCH SALMON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 540 |
| TUCKER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2005 | 530 |
| WILLIMANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 527 |
| OLD TANNERY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2010 | 525 |
| GULF STREAM | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 520 |
| WEST ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1983 | 516 |
| HAMMOCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1994 | 510 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 500 |
| MILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1996 | 491 |
| MERRICK BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 480 |
| WATABA LAKE | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 444 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 425 |
| TORRINGFORD BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1956 | 420 |
| CORY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 414 |
| QUANDUCK BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1983 | 409 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1987 | 409 |
| KONKAPOT RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 408 |
| PEASE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2008 | 404 |
| HOP RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 401 |
| NATCHAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 398 |
| MILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 388 |
| EDSON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 385 |
| MASHAMOQUET BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1900 | 371 |
| BOWEYNS BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2007 | 370 |
| BLADENS RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 361 |
| ROARING BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 348 |
| HOCKANUM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2000 | 324 |
| EATON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2015 | 311 |
| ASPETUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 300 |
| GARDNER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 271 |
| BEAVER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 270 |
| BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2010 | 265 |
| LATIMER BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2005 | 265 |
| SHEPAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1956 | 263 |
| MOUNT HOPE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 260 |
| BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2010 | 260 |
| NECK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2010 | 260 |
| IRON STREAM | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 258 |
| CADY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 238 |
| QUINEBAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 212 |
| BALL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2000 | 212 |
| ROARING BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 210 |
| BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 209 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 204 |
| BIGELOW BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 200 |
| BANTAM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1956 | 200 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 193 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 175 |
| COBBLE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2011 | 161 |
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.