Scour Critical Bridges in Montana

166 bridges in Montana 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 166 bridges in Montana have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
BIG LAKE CREEK 081	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1958	100
BIG HOLE RIVER 123	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1915	100
BOX ELDER CREEK 008	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1930	100
RYE CREEK 064	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1975	100
LITTLE BITTERROOT RV 092	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	2002	100
SWAMP GUL	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1987	50
CEDAR CR	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1959	50
Sun River	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1916	40
WHITEWATER CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1976	39
IRRIGATION DITCH 005	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1979	17
SPAR CR	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1955	10
WISE RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1992	6
NO DATA ENTERED	Montana	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1987	5
MCDONALD CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2024	200
BOULDER RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1940	157
TENMILE CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2023	107
North Fork Sunday Creek	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2024	100
DRAINAGE	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1953	100
DIRTY WOMAN CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1970	100
DRAINAGE	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1980	100
Dog Creek	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2024	100
POORMAN CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2024	89
S FK JUDITH RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1958	65
MOOSE CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1956	50
W FK COTTONWOOD CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1969	50
SPRING CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	1996	50
GALLATIN RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	9,726
GALLATIN RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	9,726
STILLWATER RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1975	7,156
BITTERROOT RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	6,979
YELLOWSTONE RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	6,397
YELLOWSTONE RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	6,397
PRICKLY PEAR CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1941	6,170
BITTERROOT RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1954	5,076
YELLOWSTONE RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1957	5,017
HYALITE CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	2022	4,997
YELLOWSTONE RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1930	4,964
YELLOWSTONE RIVER 170	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1949	4,005
BITTERROOT RIVER 010	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1935	3,627
COUGAR CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1964	3,139
BEAVERHEAD RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	2,865
BITTERROOT RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1974	2,814
YELLOWSTONE RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1994	2,438
DIVIDE CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1934	2,300
GARDNER RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1958	2,294
GALLATIN RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1951	1,889
SKALKAHO CREEK 053	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1941	1,713
BEAVER CREEK	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	1,671
JEFFERSON RIVER	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	1,515
YELLOWSTONE RIVER 004	Montana	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1949	1,471

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.

All Bridges Poor Condition Historic Bridges Bridge Stats