Scour Critical Bridges in Colorado

241 bridges in Colorado 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 241 bridges in Colorado have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
SO. PLATTE RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1923	200
Feeder Ditch	Colorado	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1970	7
ARKANSAS RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1908	—
CLEAR CREEK R	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1980	92,000
BIG DRY CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1939	62,000
CLEAR CREEK R	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1980	59,000
FOUNTAIN CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1990	56,500
SOUTH PLATTE RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1969	48,500
I 25 ML FOUNTAIN CRK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1990	47,000
CLEAR CREEK BP R	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1981	46,000
CLEAR CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1941	38,000
CLEAR CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1953	37,000
SPRING CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1948	33,000
LITTLE DRY CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1965	29,000
NORTH TURKEY CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1948	26,000
BIG DRY CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	24,040
FOUNTAIN CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1965	22,000
Big Thompson River	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1978	21,217
MONUMENT CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1988	21,121
FOUNTAIN CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1972	18,073
BOULDER CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1952	18,000
BOULDER CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	18,000
PLATEAU CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	17,000
PLATEAU CREEK R	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1958	17,000
COLORADO RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1976	16,434
FOUR MILE CANYON CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	16,000
BOULDER CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1938	15,000
SAND CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	13,644
Larimer Co. Canal No. 2	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1920	12,947
FOUNTAIN CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1930	11,000
Fossil Creek	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1985	10,956
FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	9,958
BEAVER CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	9,800
COLORADO RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	9,500
ANIMAS RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	8,100
Colorado River	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	8,096
CLEAR CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1950	7,500
GUNNISON RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1980	7,000
BRUSH HOLLOW CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	7,000
HUERFANO RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	7,000
COAL CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1921	6,600
ARKANSAS RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	6,509
GUNNISON RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	6,500
GUNNISON RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	6,200
BIG SALT WASH	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	5,500
BIG SALT WASH	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	5,500
LITTLE SALT WASH	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	5,500
LITTLE SALT WASH	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1970	5,500
ARKANSAS RIVER	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	5,240
BEAR CREEK	Colorado	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	5,000

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.

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