Scour Critical Bridges in Puerto Rico
496 bridges in Puerto Rico 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 496 bridges in Puerto Rico have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTANA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 1,000 |
| COLLORES CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 1,000 |
| COLLORES CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 1,000 |
| CUYON RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 1,000 |
| EL SALTO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 1,000 |
| CAIMITO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 1,000 |
| CANAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1985 | 1,000 |
| MARAGUEZ RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1992 | 1,000 |
| GRANDE DE PATILLAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 1,000 |
| GRANDE DE PATILLAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 1,000 |
| GRANDE CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 1,000 |
| Cubuy River | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2009 | 1,000 |
| Piñas Creek | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 1,000 |
| GRANDE DE PATILLAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 1,000 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 1,000 |
| HONDA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1992 | 1,000 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 1,000 |
| LOS PAJAROS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 1,000 |
| OROCOVIS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 1,000 |
| HOCONUCO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1978 | 1,000 |
| HOCONUCO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1978 | 1,000 |
| WATERWAY | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 1,000 |
| GRANDE CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2003 | 1,000 |
| HICOTEA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 1,000 |
| LOS CANALITOS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 1,000 |
| CAGUITAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 1,000 |
| TORUNO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 1,000 |
| CAGUITAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 1,000 |
| LIMONES RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 900 |
| HERRERAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 900 |
| ABRA HONDA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 900 |
| GUAYANES RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1976 | 900 |
| GUAYANES RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 900 |
| Inabon River | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 900 |
| CIBUCO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1886 | 800 |
| PARIS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 800 |
| VACAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 800 |
| CIALITOS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 800 |
| JAJOME CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 800 |
| TRINIDAD CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1977 | 800 |
| GRANDE DE LOIZA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 800 |
| PRIETO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 800 |
| GRANDE DE ANASCO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 750 |
| PLAYUELA CHANNEL | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 700 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 700 |
| MARIN CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 600 |
| COQUI CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 600 |
| COQUI NO 2 CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 600 |
| MATON RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 600 |
| NARANJO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 600 |
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.