Scour Critical Bridges in Puerto Rico
496 bridges in Puerto Rico 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 496 bridges in Puerto Rico have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAUNABO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 4,900 |
| EL CABRO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 4,900 |
| GURABO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 4,900 |
| SALTO ARRIBA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 4,800 |
| VIVI RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 4,800 |
| CIALITOS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 4,800 |
| BARRANCAS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 4,800 |
| CAYAGUAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 4,800 |
| LARGA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1944 | 4,700 |
| TANAMA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 4,700 |
| GRANDE DE JAYUYA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 4,600 |
| DAMIAN CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1945 | 4,500 |
| STREAM | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1901 | 4,500 |
| JUAN MARTIN CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1963 | 4,500 |
| LOS LLANOS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 4,500 |
| PITAHAYA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1945 | 4,400 |
| PITAHAYA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 4,400 |
| CANOVANAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1947 | 4,400 |
| CAIMITAL CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 4,400 |
| USABON RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1908 | 4,300 |
| ANON CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1922 | 4,200 |
| MAVILLA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 4,200 |
| DEPRESSION SMALL STREAM | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 4,200 |
| MARICAO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 4,200 |
| ARENAS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 4,200 |
| GUAYO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 4,200 |
| CHANNEL | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 4,100 |
| CULEBRINAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 4,100 |
| TALLABOA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 4,000 |
| PITAHAYA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 4,000 |
| JUAN MARTIN RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 4,000 |
| PIEDRAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 4,000 |
| CANOVANAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 3,972 |
| LAPA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1926 | 3,900 |
| BAYAMON CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 3,900 |
| MULA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 3,900 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 3,900 |
| SALIENTE RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 3,900 |
| GUAMANI RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 3,800 |
| GUAYANES RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 3,800 |
| PALMAS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 3,700 |
| DAGUAO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 3,600 |
| HIGUERO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 3,600 |
| CERCADA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 3,600 |
| MIRAFLORES CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 3,600 |
| CERRO GORDO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 3,600 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 3,600 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 3,600 |
| DUEY RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 3,600 |
| FAJARDO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 3,600 |
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.