Scour Critical Bridges in Washington

516 bridges in Washington 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 516 bridges in Washington have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
NOOKSACK R OVERFLOW	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1994	10,205
MIDDLE FORK WILDCAT CREE	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1921	1,325
BAGLEY CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1946	636
DRAINAGE DITCH	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1971	612
TOUTLE RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1981	600
TUCANNON RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1962	350
CHEWELAH CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1935	300
TUCANNON RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1968	200
UNION FLAT CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1910	200
CHEWELAH CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1935	100
Mill Creek	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	2020	50
East Low 68 Mile Lateral	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1953	20
SOUTH FORK PINE CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1918	20
Potholes East Canal	Washington	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1952	10
SUNSET CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2024	139,482
TRIB TO JUANITA CR	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2023	38,957
China Ditch	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	2009	10,460
China Ditch	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	2009	1,790
MCALEER CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1990	1,000
CHEHALIS RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	1988	620
Ostrich Creek	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2022	416
ELK CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1964	375
WHIPPLE CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1962	298
Nelson Creek	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2022	213
DIABLO TAILRACE	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1962	205
Footbridge Trail	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2023	75
POWDER MILL GULCH	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1993	15
WEST CANAL	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	1946	5
SKAGIT RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1940	—
SR 14 BNRR	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1982	160,000
CLOVER CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	67,232
COLUMBIA RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1958	65,013
COLUMBIA RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1916	65,013
STILLAGUAMISH RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1933	45,626
STILLAGUAMISH R	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1971	45,626
E FORK LEWIS RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1939	41,939
PILCHUCK CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1973	41,822
PILCHUCK CREEK	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1954	41,822
NEWAUKUM RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1952	29,186
NEWAUKUM RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1952	29,186
GREEN RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1959	28,147
SPOKANE RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1973	28,100
SAMMAMISH R	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1972	27,000
CHEHALIS RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1955	26,216
OVERFLOW CHANNEL	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	25,406
OVERFLOW CHANNEL	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	25,406
SKOOKUMCHUCK RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1951	24,769
SKOOKUMCHUCK RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1951	24,769
NACHES RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1932	24,488
SULTAN RIVER	Washington	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1940	23,022

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