Contraction Scour at a Bridge over the Iowa River

by Edward E. Fischer, (M.ASCE), U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa City, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

Flooding of the Iowa River during July and August 1993 caused extensive contraction scour at the State Highway 99 bridge over the Iowa River at Wapello, Iowa. At least 3.3 m of piling under the footing of the second pier from the right (west) abutment were exposed. The scoured streambed did not fill in again after the flood receded, and a bathymetric survey in November 1993 showed that the streambed had been scoured for a distance of about 500 m upstream from the bridge. The bridge was closed to traffic, first because of water over the roadway when a levee failed, and then remained closed because of the exposed piling. The bridge subsequently was reopened to traffic with a weight limit of 13.6 tons.

Subject Headings: Highway bridges | Scour | Rivers and streams | Bridge abutments | Bridge foundations | Floods | Piers | Iowa | United States

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