Scour Critical Bridges in Maryland

54 bridges in Maryland 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 54 bridges in Maryland have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear
Bridge State Scour Status Condition Year Built ADT
STONEY RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1900 4,280
DRY RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1950 252
OLD MILL STREAM BRANCH Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Poor 1955 100
JONES FALLS & UNION AVE Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1959 95,051
HERRING RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1925 22,752
CHINQUAPIN RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1932 20,285
CHINQUAPIN RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1932 20,285
CABIN JOHN CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1863 12,300
MOORES RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1930 10,737
MATTAWOMAN CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1984 7,843
TRIBUTARY TO SEVERN RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1988 7,820
PINEY BRANCH Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1935 4,689
SILVER CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1940 4,601
MATTAWOMAN CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1978 4,509
WESTERN RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1893 3,524
TRIBUTARY TO WEST BRANCH Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1930 3,000
BEAR CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1921 2,345
LITTLE ELK CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1967 2,203
BEAVER CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1915 1,500
MILL DAM RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1933 1,497
SWANSON CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1934 1,383
POTOMAC RIVER TRIBUTARY Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1925 1,322
BRICE RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1930 1,300
ANTIETAM CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1830 1,173
SILVER CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1985 1,029
LITTLE MONOCACY RIVER Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1940 918
ISRAEL CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1940 687
GILBERT SWAMP RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1927 656
CHERRY CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1970 655
LYONS CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1965 623
BENNETT CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1925 608
CRABTREE CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1950 598
POPLAR LICK RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1935 544
BEAVERDAM CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1924 448
LITTLE SENECA CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1925 437
GREAT SENECA CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1965 400
JACKSON RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1946 338
TRIBUTARY TO FIRST MINE Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1988 325
SHARMANS BRANCH Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1978 310
ALLOWAY CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1940 269
MONOCACY RIVER Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1911 268
LITTLE PIPE CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1900 234
MILL RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 2000 205
TRIBUTARY OF DOG CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1920 172
GILBERT SWAMP RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1933 137
SAMS CREEK Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1972 119
BASIN RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1977 110
ROCK RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1940 100
BIG RUN Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1935 55
DITCHLEY PRONG Maryland Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1920 55

Scour Critical Rating Codes

Code 2 — UnaddressedBridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken.
Code 3 — Countermeasures InstalledProtective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical.
Code 6 — Countermeasures IneffectiveProtective 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.