InTrans / Aug 14, 2018
Bridge Scour Evaluation: Screening, Analysis, and Countermeasures
Scour, defined as the erosion or removal of streambed or bank material form bridge foundations due to flowing water is the most common cause of highway bridge failures in the United States. The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers 7,650 bridges on National Forest lands and virtually all of them are over water. Scour is
also the single most common cause for bridge damage and failure on National Forest lands. Many bridges will experience floods which can cause damage each year. To minimize
future bridge flood damage and ensure public safety requires developing and implementing improved procedures for designing bridges and inspecting them for scour.