Scour Critical Bridges in Florida
357 bridges in Florida 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 357 bridges in Florida have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chipola River | Florida | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1966 | 1,600 |
| TAYLOR CREEK TRIBUTARY | Florida | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Fair | 1957 | 1,300 |
| Duck Key Channel | Florida | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Fair | 1955 | 830 |
| Pitts Mill Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1963 | 300 |
| Bypass Channel | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1999 | 24,500 |
| E Fork Cooper Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1995 | 24,500 |
| Rattlesnake Slough | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 17,000 |
| Ditch | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2010 | 11,700 |
| Mill Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 3,500 |
| Drainage Ditch | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 1,500 |
| Unnamed Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 1,500 |
| Drainage Ditch | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 1,500 |
| Williams Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 1,500 |
| Williams Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 1,500 |
| Unnamed creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 1,500 |
| Unnamed Channel | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2003 | 1,000 |
| Drainage Ditch | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 1,000 |
| Gov. Hammock Canal | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 100 |
| ST.JOHNS RIV.& MILL COVE | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 84,321 |
| SIX MILE CYPRESS CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1981 | 57,000 |
| SIX MILE CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1981 | 55,000 |
| HEDDON CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1997 | 55,000 |
| Dania Cut-Off Canal | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 53,000 |
| CROSS BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 49,500 |
| BRADEN RIVER EAST BRANCH | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1988 | 49,500 |
| NASSAU RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1967 | 45,000 |
| NASSAU RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1967 | 45,000 |
| Loxahatchee River | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 42,000 |
| MANATEE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 41,000 |
| INDIAN CREEK CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 41,000 |
| PLATO CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1963 | 40,500 |
| MELAGA CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1963 | 40,500 |
| BEAR CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1995 | 40,500 |
| HILLSBOROUGH RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 38,500 |
| CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1989 | 37,960 |
| CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 37,957 |
| ST. JOHNS RIVER/HIGHLAND | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 37,000 |
| ORTEGA RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 36,750 |
| ORTEGA RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 36,750 |
| SWEETWATER CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 35,300 |
| LITTLE BLACK CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1947 | 34,500 |
| Intracoastal Waterway | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 33,007 |
| INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 32,250 |
| TROUT RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 30,500 |
| Biscayne Bay | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 30,500 |
| PHILLIPPI CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1986 | 30,500 |
| WHITAKER BAYOU | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1923 | 30,500 |
| BIG POTTSBURG CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 28,000 |
| C-13 CANAL | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 26,260 |
| Howard Creek | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1936 | 26,250 |
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.