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
CUTHAND CRK REL. Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1949 1,510
Seabourne Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 1,504
Drainage Ditch Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 1,504
DEEP BRANCH CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1954 1,504
Cedar Creek Relief Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2022 1,500
LIVE BRANCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2004 1,500
Unnamed creek Florida Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2006 1,500
Williams Creek Florida Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2013 1,500
Cedar Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2022 1,500
Unnamed Creek Florida Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2003 1,500
Drainage Ditch Florida Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2004 1,500
QUARTERMASTER REACH California Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2021 1,500
Williams Creek Florida Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2006 1,500
LITTLE WHITE OAK BAYOU Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1995 1,500
LITTLE WHITE OAK BAYOU Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1999 1,500
Drainage Ditch Florida Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2005 1,500
LAKE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2009 1,493
POND CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1940 1,490
MORRISON CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1992 1,490
WILLOW FLATS Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 2015 1,487
CANEY CREEK RELIEF Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1980 1,480
DUCK CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1973 1,477
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1944 1,476
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1988 1,476
Unnamed arroyo New Mexico Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2024 1,464
Unnamed arroyo New Mexico Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2024 1,464
Unnamed arroyo New Mexico Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2024 1,464
Unnamed arroyo New Mexico Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2024 1,464
DRAINAGE DITCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1989 1,461
WEST CADDO CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1986 1,460
BRUSHY CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1986 1,460
PARADISE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1936 1,456
CCWID#11 IRRIG. CANAL Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 2006 1,450
Fivemile Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1965 1,450
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1970 1,446
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1970 1,445
DUCK CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1962 1,445
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1970 1,445
RAYMONDVILLE DRAIN Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1969 1,445
HC & WC MASTER DRAIN Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1986 1,443
CROOKS CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1954 1,433
BITTER CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 1,432
BITTER CREEK BRANCH Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1929 1,432
Turkey Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1981 1,427
CHIPPEWA RIVER Minnesota Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 2023 1,427
Snake Creek Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 1981 1,427
PACE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1958 1,422
BOIS DARC CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1958 1,422
Draw Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1950 1,409
Draw Texas Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1950 1,409

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.