Scour Critical Bridges in Tennessee

581 bridges in Tennessee 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 581 bridges in Tennessee have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
DOE RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1929	22,653
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1940	2,242
DUCK RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1945	601
WHITEOAK CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1959	323
NORTH FORK OBION RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1956	272
SOUTH REELFOOT CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	2008	150
CONASAUGA RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1924	107
CHESTUEE CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1965	100
SAWMILL BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1975	90
LITTLE SHAWNETTE CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1970	70
SPIVEY CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1974	10
DRY HOLLOW CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1984	10
RED RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1972	88,998
HARRIS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	52,149
SEQUATCHIE RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1965	52,102
SEQUATCHIE RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1965	52,102
HIWASSEE RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1968	48,545
HIWASSEE RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1968	48,545
MOUSE CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1971	47,306
MOUSE CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	47,306
BOND CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1929	44,043
CUB CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	41,499
CUB CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	41,499
CYPRESS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	41,152
CYPRESS CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	41,152
WOLF CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	37,703
WOLF CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	37,703
BIG FIERY GIZZARD CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1963	36,821
BIG FIERY GIZZARD CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1963	36,821
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	36,373
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	36,373
N. CHICKAMAUGA CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1975	35,457
N. CHICKAMAUGA CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1975	35,457
BUFFALO RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1964	35,368
BUFFALO RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1964	35,368
S. CHICKAMAUGA CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	31,976
MIDDLE FK.FORKED DEER RI	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	30,652
MIDDLE FK.FORKED DEER RI	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1968	30,652
PIGEON RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1966	29,828
PIGEON RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	29,828
NORTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1955	27,012
W. FK. FLETCHER CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1983	26,269
DUCK RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1947	24,920
DUCK RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1948	24,920
SR 10 RL / ELK RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1968	24,286
RICHLAND CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	23,414
RICHLAND CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	23,414
WOLF RIVER	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	21,144
HOOSIER CREEK	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1968	19,597
BRANCH	Tennessee	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1965	18,528

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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