Scour Critical Bridges in Wyoming
51 bridges in Wyoming 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 51 bridges in Wyoming have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE ROCK CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1976 | 50 |
| LITTLE BEAR CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2018 | 1,775 |
| Bull Lake Dam Spillway | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1938 | 5 |
| Donkey Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 22,352 |
| Laprele Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 4,769 |
| Little Boxelder Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 4,762 |
| Little Boxelder Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 4,762 |
| Laprele Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 4,607 |
| Bear River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 2,961 |
| Big Horn River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 2,711 |
| MADISON RIVER | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1958 | 2,525 |
| YELLOWSTONE RIVER | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 1,982 |
| LAVA CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 1,807 |
| FIREHOLE RIVER | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 1,807 |
| FOX CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 1,775 |
| CRAZY CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 1,775 |
| Skull Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1958 | 1,753 |
| Little Goose Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 1,708 |
| Little Goose Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 1,679 |
| INDEX CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 1,600 |
| Floodwater Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1946 | 1,530 |
| Well Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,326 |
| Donkey Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,326 |
| Donkey Creek Overflow | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 1,326 |
| Donkey Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,326 |
| SMALL STREAM | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 800 |
| Prairie Dog Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1956 | 583 |
| Box Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1998 | 529 |
| Chugwater Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 307 |
| Smiths Fork River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1991 | 271 |
| Medicine Lodge Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 216 |
| S Fork Little Wind River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 193 |
| N Fork Little Wind River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1960 | 193 |
| Middle Fork Bear Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 182 |
| Twin Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 153 |
| Laprele Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1992 | 147 |
| Bitter Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 130 |
| Crazy Woman Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1987 | 98 |
| Otter Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 96 |
| Smiths Fork River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 73 |
| Laramie River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1977 | 69 |
| Big Sandy River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1982 | 60 |
| Boozer Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1999 | 60 |
| Horse Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 44 |
| STRAWBERRY CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2005 | 40 |
| Salt Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2008 | 40 |
| Little Missouri River | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 38 |
| NOWATER CREEK | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1997 | 30 |
| Muddy Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2007 | 25 |
| Twin Creek | Wyoming | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 8 |
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.