Montana River bridge
Streambed Scour at Bridges in Alaska Active
Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. The Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and the Alaska Railroad, is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydraulic modeling, and data collection during high flows.
Return to Water
Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. Costs associated with repair and the societal repercussions associated with failures are amplified in Alaska where alternate ground transportation routes between many cities do not exist. Damage to bridges and culverts during two floods on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002 was estimated at over 19 million dollars and prevented vehicular traffic to and from the lower Kenai Peninsula for three days.
The USGS Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydrodynamic modeling, and data collection during high flows.
Bridges | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
---|---|---|
Chilkat River BN 742 |
Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Copper River BN 1187 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Glacier Creek BN 999 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Kashwitna River BN 212 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Kasilof River BN 670 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Knik River near Palmer BN 539 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Lowe River BN 557 |
Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Lowe River BN 1383 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Nenana River near Windy BN 1243 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Red Cloud River BN 983 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Salcha River near Salchaket BN 527 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Sheridan River BN 230 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Tanana River at Big Delta BN 524 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Tanana River at Nenana BN 202 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Tazlina River BN 573 | Real-time Data | Soundings/Photos |
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Salcha River debris near Salchaket
Scour under a bridge on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002.
Scour under a bridge on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002.
Salcha River bridge near Salchaket
Nenana River sonar top near Windy
Nenana River pier near Windy
Lowe River Flood outside of Valdez, Alaska
Lowe River Flood outside of Valdez, Alaska
Tanana River bridge at Nenana
Montana River sonar on a bridge
Sounding weight on the Copper River Delta, Alaska
Sounding weight on the Copper River Delta, Alaska
Sheridan River scour hole
Below are publications associated with this project.
Summary and Comparison of Multiphase Streambed Scour Analysis at Selected Bridge Sites in Alaska
Methodology and Estimates of Scour at Selected Bridge Sites in Alaska
Geomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska
Geomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska
Application of surface geophysical techniques in a study of the geomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska
Scour assessment at bridges from Flag Point to Million Dollar Bridge, Copper River Highway, Alaska
Copper River hydraulic study at Million Dollar Bridge, Alaska
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. The Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and the Alaska Railroad, is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydraulic modeling, and data collection during high flows.
Return to Water
Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. Costs associated with repair and the societal repercussions associated with failures are amplified in Alaska where alternate ground transportation routes between many cities do not exist. Damage to bridges and culverts during two floods on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002 was estimated at over 19 million dollars and prevented vehicular traffic to and from the lower Kenai Peninsula for three days.
The USGS Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydrodynamic modeling, and data collection during high flows.
Bridges Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Chilkat River BN 742
Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Copper River BN 1187 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Glacier Creek BN 999 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Kashwitna River BN 212 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Kasilof River BN 670 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Knik River near Palmer BN 539 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Lowe River BN 557
Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Lowe River BN 1383 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Nenana River near Windy BN 1243 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Red Cloud River BN 983 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Salcha River near Salchaket BN 527 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Sheridan River BN 230 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Tanana River at Big Delta BN 524 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Tanana River at Nenana BN 202 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos Tazlina River BN 573 Real-time Data Soundings/Photos - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 36Salcha River debris near SalchaketSalcha River debris near Salchaket
Scour under a bridge on the Kenai PeninsulaScour under a bridge on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002.
Scour under a bridge on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002.
Salcha River bridge near SalchaketSalcha River bridge near Salchaket
Nenana River sonar top near WindyNenana River sonar top near Windy
Nenana River pier and sonar near WindyNenana River pier near Windy
Lowe River Flood outside of Valdez, AlaskaLowe River Flood outside of Valdez, Alaska
Lowe River Flood outside of Valdez, Alaska
Tanana River bridge at NenanaTanana River bridge at Nenana
Montana River sonar on a bridgeMontana River sonar on a bridge
Sounding weight on the Copper River Delta, AlaskaSounding weight on the Copper River Delta, Alaska
Sounding weight on the Copper River Delta, Alaska
Sheridan River scour holeSheridan River scour hole
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 20Summary and Comparison of Multiphase Streambed Scour Analysis at Selected Bridge Sites in Alaska
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities undertook a cooperative multiphase study of streambed scour at selected bridges in Alaska beginning in 1994. Of the 325 bridges analyzed for susceptibility to scour in the preliminary phase, 54 bridges were selected for a more intensive analysis that included site investigations. Cross-section geometry andAuthorsJeffrey S. ConawayMethodology and Estimates of Scour at Selected Bridge Sites in Alaska
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated scour depths at 325 bridges in Alaska as part of a cooperative agreement with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The department selected these sites from approximately 806 State-owned bridges as potentially susceptible to scour during extreme floods. Pier scour and contraction scour were computed for the selected bridges by using metAuthorsThomas A. Heinrichs, Ben W. Kennedy, Dustin E. Langley, Robert L. BurrowsGeomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska
The Copper River, located in southcentral Alaska, drains an area of more than 24,000 square miles. About 30 miles above its mouth, this large river enters Miles Lake, a proglacial lake formed by the retreat of Miles Glacier. Downstream from the outlet of Miles Lake, the Copper River flows past the face of Childs Glacier before it enters a large, broad, alluvial flood plain. The Copper River HighwaAuthorsTimothy P. BrabetsGeomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska
The Copper River, located in southcentral Alaska, drains an area of more than 24,000 square miles. About 30 miles above its mouth, this large river enters Miles Lake, a proglacial lake formed by the retreat of Miles Glacier. Downstream from the outlet of Miles Lake, the Copper River flows past the face of Childs Glacier before it enters a large, broad, alluvial flood plain. The Copper River HighwaAuthorsT. P. BrabetsApplication of surface geophysical techniques in a study of the geomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska
As part of a geomorphology study of the lower Copper River, three surface geophysical techniques were tested for their ability to detect infilled scour holes at bridge piers, old river channels, and subbottom deposits in a glacier-formed lake. The methods were (1) ground-penetrating radar, (2) continuous seismic reflection using a color fathometer, and (3) continuous seismic reflection using a tunAuthorsT. P. BrabetsScour assessment at bridges from Flag Point to Million Dollar Bridge, Copper River Highway, Alaska
Twelve bridges are located along the Copper River Highway from Flag Point (Mile 27) to lhe Million Dollar Bridge (Mile 48). These bridges cross all or parts of the Copper River. Channel scour at these bridges was assessed by collecting and analyzing discharge and sediment data, analyzing aerial photography for eight different years, surveying and comparing cross sections, and utilizing scour equatAuthorsT. P. BrabetsCopper River hydraulic study at Million Dollar Bridge, Alaska
The Copper River hydraulic conditions in the vicinity of the Million-Dollar Bridge, Alaska, at the outlet to Miles Lake are described. The water discharge, lake and river bed profiles, bathymetry, velocity, and direction of flow are presented. (Kosco-USGS)AuthorsStanley H. Jones, William F. Barber - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.