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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NARANJO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 600 |
| Waterway | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2007 | 600 |
| GRANDE DE MANATI RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 600 |
| PELLEJAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 600 |
| CULEBRINAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1953 | 600 |
| NUEVE PASOS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 600 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 600 |
| GRANDE DE ARECIBO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1988 | 600 |
| DUEY RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2012 | 600 |
| MATON ARRIBA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1991 | 600 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 600 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 600 |
| COAMO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1951 | 600 |
| LOCO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 500 |
| INDIERA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1921 | 500 |
| LA PLATA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 500 |
| CIBUCO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 500 |
| RIO HONDO CHANNEL | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 500 |
| JACABOA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 500 |
| CIALITOS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1967 | 500 |
| CONSEJO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 500 |
| DE APEADERO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 500 |
| TANAMA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1997 | 500 |
| DON BARO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1979 | 500 |
| CONSEJO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1984 | 500 |
| GUABA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 500 |
| YAGUEZ RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1976 | 450 |
| GRANDE DE CARITE RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1905 | 400 |
| GUAYANILLA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1958 | 400 |
| GUAYANILLA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 400 |
| GRANDE CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 400 |
| USABON RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1968 | 400 |
| SAN ANTONIO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 400 |
| CARICABOA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 400 |
| JACAGUAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 400 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2003 | 400 |
| GUAYANILLA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 400 |
| PULGA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 400 |
| JAYUYA RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 400 |
| CEDRO CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1994 | 400 |
| RIO GUADIANA | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2017 | 400 |
| COLLORES CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 400 |
| CAIN RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2000 | 400 |
| SABANA LLANA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 350 |
| JACANAS CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 300 |
| SONADORA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 300 |
| CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 300 |
| JACAGUAS RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1966 | 300 |
| WATERWAY | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2007 | 300 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1992 | 300 |
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.