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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMACKS BAYOU CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 447 |
| SEASHELL CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 400 |
| Aucilla River | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1984 | 400 |
| Long Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 400 |
| Canal | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 322 |
| RED HOUSE BRANCH | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 301 |
| NEW RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1992 | 300 |
| GRAFF CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1950 | 300 |
| FALLING CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 300 |
| ROBINSON BRANCH | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 300 |
| ROTHS CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 270 |
| SUWANNEE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 250 |
| Ochlockonee River | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1984 | 250 |
| LATERAL CANAL AB | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 230 |
| LOUISE BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 230 |
| MID-PRONG ST MARYS RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 200 |
| INDIAN RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 170 |
| N PRONG ST MARYS RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 151 |
| SIMMS CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2006 | 151 |
| FLYING ARROW CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1995 | 150 |
| SHIRED CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 150 |
| DEER CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1986 | 150 |
| ZUTES CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1995 | 148 |
| DEEP BOTTOM CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1990 | 128 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1925 | 125 |
| POWELL CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 105 |
| Crabgrass Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 105 |
| BOECKMAN BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1993 | 101 |
| CLAY GULLY | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 101 |
| BELL SPRING RUN | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 101 |
| WEKIVA CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2000 | 101 |
| YELLOW WATER CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 101 |
| TROUT CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 101 |
| CANAL C-103 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 101 |
| SPRING RUN CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 100 |
| PAYNE CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 93 |
| FALLING CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1999 | 91 |
| WARRIOR CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1975 | 88 |
| ECONFINA RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 81 |
| TRIB OF ST MARYS RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 71 |
| ROSE CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1999 | 71 |
| Blue Cypress Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 53 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 51 |
| BRANCH OF SIMMS CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2007 | 51 |
| DRAINAGE CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 50 |
| Beaver Creek #1 | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2010 | 50 |
| SALTY CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 41 |
| ALLIGATOR CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 41 |
| STEINHATCHEE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 41 |
| Unnamed Branch | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2000 | 39 |
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.