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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINDSEY CREEK | New York | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 209 |
| Drainage Ditch | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2014 | 208 |
| WEST FORK POND CR | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 207 |
| DIABLO TAILRACE | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 205 |
| BRIAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1968 | 205 |
| COWHOUSE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2004 | 205 |
| BRUSHY CRK REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 204 |
| WATER CARPNTR RSV INLT N | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 200 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 200 |
| MCDONALD CREEK | Montana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 200 |
| DAVIS BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 2000 | 200 |
| WATER UNNAMED STREAM | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 200 |
| WATER CARPNTR RSV INLT S | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 200 |
| WATER BENNETTS BROOK | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 200 |
| Cibolo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2022 | 200 |
| WOODLANDS WATERWAY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1995 | 200 |
| WATER STREAM | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 200 |
| RACCOON CREEK | West Virginia | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 200 |
| EGYPT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1985 | 200 |
| BELL BOTTOM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1986 | 200 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 200 |
| STEWART CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2005 | 200 |
| Branch | Alabama | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1976 | 200 |
| BOGGS GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 200 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 200 |
| WOODLANDS WATERWAY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1995 | 200 |
| BRANCH to Kingstree cana | South Carolina | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1961 | 200 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 200 |
| Spear Creek | Alabama | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1986 | 200 |
| CHICKSAW CREEK | South Carolina | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 200 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 200 |
| WATER BENNETTS BRK TRIB | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 200 |
| Anacostia River Outlet | District of Columbia | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1984 | 200 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2001 | 200 |
| STOUTS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1963 | 200 |
| WHITE ROCK CREEK TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2005 | 200 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 200 |
| BOGGS GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 200 |
| LA CROSSE RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2021 | 200 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2011 | 200 |
| N Fork Humboldt Rvr | Nevada | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 200 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 200 |
| Drainage Ditch | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2022 | 200 |
| LITTLE CANEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1990 | 200 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 200 |
| MEDIO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 200 |
| WATER WETLAND | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2009 | 200 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1995 | 199 |
| Caney Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2014 | 199 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 197 |
Scour Critical Bridges by State
States ranked by number of scour critical bridges.
| State | Scour Critical | Unaddressed | Countermeasures | Ineffective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 — 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.