Scour Critical Bridges in Maine
140 bridges in Maine 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 140 bridges in Maine have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEGUNTICOOK RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1935 | 830 |
| VIOLETTE BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1958 | 380 |
| PENNESSEEWASSEE STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1921 | 352 |
| MOOSEHORN CREEK | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1951 | 291 |
| SHEPARDS RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1930 | 240 |
| PENOBSCOT RIVER OVERFLOW | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1902 | 177 |
| PENOBSCOT RIVER OVERFLOW | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1902 | 158 |
| WEST BAY STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1980 | 126 |
| KEZAR RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1980 | 83 |
| W BR KENDUSKEAG | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1935 | 71 |
| KENDUSKEAG STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 2001 | 54 |
| CARRABASSET STR | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1936 | 52 |
| BEAVER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 2020 | 37 |
| WEST BR. CONCORD RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1938 | 155 |
| MT DESERT NARROWS | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 15,122 |
| DAMARISCOTTA RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 14,450 |
| COUSINS RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 9,550 |
| SANDY RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 8,124 |
| BEAR RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 5,738 |
| THREE BROOK STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 5,030 |
| PLEASANT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 4,408 |
| MILL STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 4,273 |
| MILL STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 4,273 |
| COOKS BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 4,258 |
| AROOSTOOK RIV ABANDD RR | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1956 | 3,620 |
| N BR PRESQUE ISLE STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 3,581 |
| AROOSTOOK RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 3,210 |
| WILSON STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1958 | 2,854 |
| NARRAGUAGUS RV | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 2,493 |
| W BR MOLUNKUS STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 2,071 |
| WAPSACONHAGAN | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,936 |
| MOOSE POND OUTLET | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1912 | 1,614 |
| MILLINOCKET STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 1,548 |
| E BRANCH NEZINSCOT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 1,503 |
| E.BRANCH SEBASTICOOK R. | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 1,335 |
| CARRABASSETT STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 1,331 |
| INDIAN STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 1,310 |
| YORK RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 1,310 |
| DYER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 1,308 |
| BILLY BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 1,195 |
| MARTIN STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 1,193 |
| WILSON STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1980 | 1,182 |
| QUAKER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 1,180 |
| HUNTLEY BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1980 | 1,157 |
| POOLER BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 1,068 |
| LUBEC NARROWS | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1962 | 992 |
| TEMPLE BROOK | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 935 |
| KENDUSKEAG STREAM | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 927 |
| PENOBSCOT RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 905 |
| SEBASTICOOK RIVER | Maine | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 876 |
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.