Scour Critical Bridges in Pennsylvania
2,233 bridges in Pennsylvania 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 2,233 bridges in Pennsylvania have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANDY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 6,481 |
| WISSAHICKON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1841 | 6,457 |
| Tacony Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1914 | 6,455 |
| OVER DUTCHMANS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 6,433 |
| OVER DUTCHMAN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 6,433 |
| WYLIE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1905 | 6,411 |
| VAN BRUNT CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 6,398 |
| AQUETONG CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 6,360 |
| BRANCH OF MONTOUR RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 6,349 |
| BRANCH MONTOUR RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 6,349 |
| SAW MILL RUN STREAM | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 6,348 |
| COBBS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1906 | 6,335 |
| SCHUYLKILL RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 6,319 |
| ABRAHAMS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1962 | 6,292 |
| TRIB.SWATARA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 6,200 |
| MUSSER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 6,199 |
| WEST BR. RED CLAY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 6,163 |
| TR.EVITTS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 6,158 |
| WEST BR. OF NAAMAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 6,120 |
| BRANCH TACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 6,088 |
| SPROGELS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 6,050 |
| CACOOSING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 6,035 |
| TRIBUTARY MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 6,025 |
| TRIB TO BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 6,025 |
| SCHUYLKILL RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,993 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 5,968 |
| SKIPPACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 5,958 |
| POND CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 5,948 |
| MUD RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 5,877 |
| WISSAHICKON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1884 | 5,864 |
| DARBY CREEK / 3476-F8 | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1810 | 5,835 |
| NORTH BR.NESHAMINY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 5,796 |
| TOBYS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 5,783 |
| GOSHENHOPPEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 5,768 |
| PARADISE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 5,745 |
| WISSAHICKON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 5,733 |
| TAYLORS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 5,723 |
| LITTLE BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 5,703 |
| TRIB.MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 5,642 |
| TACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 5,619 |
| SAW MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 5,600 |
| SAW MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,600 |
| ROCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 5,593 |
| OVER FOUR MILE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 5,562 |
| NORTHEAST CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 5,547 |
| LITTLE MANATAWNY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 5,524 |
| DECKER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 5,455 |
| SCHOENECK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1942 | 5,435 |
| PARADISE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 5,372 |
| CHESTER CREEK / 3696-C10 | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1850 | 5,295 |
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.