Scour Critical Bridges in Florida
357 bridges in Florida 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 357 bridges in Florida have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partin Canal | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 4,000 |
| HILLSBOROUGH RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 3,747 |
| LONG BRANCH | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 3,700 |
| COVE SOUND CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 3,600 |
| RIVIERA BAY | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 3,600 |
| OLUSTEE CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 3,600 |
| Canal 086 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1955 | 3,515 |
| Canal 087 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 3,515 |
| Canal 088 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 3,515 |
| Canal 092 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1941 | 3,515 |
| Normandy Waterway | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1983 | 3,503 |
| LITTLE BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 3,477 |
| Canal 078 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1950 | 3,400 |
| PLACIDO BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 3,400 |
| Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 3,400 |
| MCCOYS CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 3,341 |
| INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 3,240 |
| Sebastian Inlet | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 3,214 |
| Canal 068 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1952 | 3,200 |
| Canal 071 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1953 | 3,200 |
| I.C.W.W | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 3,157 |
| MINETTA BRANCH | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1924 | 3,100 |
| ST LUCIE CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1980 | 3,100 |
| BUFFALO CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1984 | 3,078 |
| BROWARD RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 3,051 |
| LITTLE McPHERSON BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 3,046 |
| DRAINAGE CANAL 039 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 3,000 |
| Canal 100 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 3,000 |
| Canal 101 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 3,000 |
| SPRING CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 3,000 |
| HILLS. BAY & BAYSHORE B. | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 2,950 |
| Turner River | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 2,700 |
| POWELL CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1985 | 2,680 |
| Howell Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1981 | 2,670 |
| Banana River | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 2,569 |
| COLLEEN CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 2,500 |
| NUMBER THREE CHANNEL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 2,500 |
| GILLEY CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 2,300 |
| GAMBLE CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 2,300 |
| BASSWOOD CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1988 | 2,290 |
| MCMULLEN CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 2,200 |
| Shaw Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 2,200 |
| BOGEY CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1951 | 2,015 |
| TRIB TO CLAPBOARD CRK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1951 | 2,015 |
| PUMPKIN HILL CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 2,015 |
| GANNON STA DISCHARGE 2 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1965 | 2,000 |
| BRANCH OF LITTLE MANATEE | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 2,000 |
| N. PRONG ALAFIA RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 1,921 |
| Waterway | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 1,816 |
| AUCILLA RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 1,800 |
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.