Scour Critical Bridges in Michigan
1,081 bridges in Michigan 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 1,081 bridges in Michigan have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAZEN CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 5,656 |
| SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 5,647 |
| SPAULDING DRAIN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 5,643 |
| SPAULDING DRAIN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 5,643 |
| SEVILLE SUMNER DRAIN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 5,634 |
| N BRANCH BLACK RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1992 | 5,632 |
| MENOMINEE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 5,620 |
| ALLEN DRAIN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 5,571 |
| WISNER DRAIN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 5,571 |
| EAST POND CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 5,560 |
| WATERWAY CANAL | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2021 | 5,546 |
| PILGRIM RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 5,543 |
| N BR DEVIL RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 5,537 |
| CASS RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 5,516 |
| BEAN CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 5,505 |
| BUTTERNUT CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 5,487 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 5,487 |
| FISH CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 5,487 |
| BLACK RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1947 | 5,462 |
| PRAIRIE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 5,400 |
| BULLOCK CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2020 | 5,390 |
| DIVERSION DITCH | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 5,387 |
| SUNDAY LAKE OUTLET | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 5,387 |
| PINE RUN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 5,320 |
| HURON RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2006 | 5,259 |
| CASS RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 5,255 |
| SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1988 | 5,232 |
| AU TRAIN RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,200 |
| SOUTH BR. FLINT RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1935 | 5,200 |
| KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 5,183 |
| TAMARACK CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,181 |
| BEAN CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 5,136 |
| BEAN CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 5,136 |
| POKAGON CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 5,100 |
| NORTH ORE CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 5,060 |
| PIRNIE CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 5,057 |
| FARM DRAIN | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 5,052 |
| MISTEQUAY CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 5,039 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 5,031 |
| NORTH BRANCH ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1943 | 5,000 |
| MISTEQUAY CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 4,958 |
| CHOCOLAY RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 4,934 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 4,916 |
| MIDDLE BR ESCANABA RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 4,907 |
| E BR ESCANABA RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 4,907 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 4,900 |
| DRAIN #73 | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 4,800 |
| PERE MARQUETTE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 4,771 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 4,730 |
| BETSIE RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 4,712 |
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.