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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BINGHAM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2001 | 59 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1978 | 58 |
| PIN OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 58 |
| PLUM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1961 | 57 |
| JONES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 56 |
| LUCAS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 56 |
| LAKE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1991 | 55 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 55 |
| WILLS CREEK | Alabama | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1961 | 55 |
| AQUILLA CREEK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 55 |
| POND CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 55 |
| MILLS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 55 |
| STEELE CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 55 |
| SALT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 55 |
| ECLETO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1999 | 55 |
| MCTENNEL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 55 |
| STEEL CREEK TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 55 |
| ECLETO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2004 | 55 |
| RHYMES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2007 | 55 |
| CHRISTMAS CREEK TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2022 | 55 |
| MUSTANG CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 55 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 55 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2006 | 55 |
| HOGPEN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 55 |
| BIG CREEK E RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 55 |
| BIG CREEK W RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 55 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 55 |
| HUNTER BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1986 | 55 |
| BLACK LAKE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1988 | 55 |
| TRIB OF N FK CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 55 |
| TRIB PINEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1960 | 55 |
| CONNOR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1990 | 55 |
| TRIB DEANS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 55 |
| Blanco Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 54 |
| BOGGY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1963 | 54 |
| KICKAPOO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2009 | 54 |
| DUCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1997 | 53 |
| E FK LITTLE WICHITA RIV | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 53 |
| Trib of Chiltipin Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 52 |
| LITTLE TEHUACANA CRK TRB | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2011 | 52 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1922 | 52 |
| Peters Swale | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 52 |
| DUCK CREEK TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1970 | 52 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 52 |
| VILLAGE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1997 | 52 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1984 | 52 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 51 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1991 | 51 |
| JERNIGAN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1951 | 51 |
| DRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 50 |
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.