Stream Stability at Highway Structures

Approximately 500,000 bridges in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) are built over streams. A large proportion of these bridges span alluvial streams that are continually adjusting their beds and banks. Many, especially those on more active streams, will experience problems with aggradation, degradation, bank erosion, and lateral channel shift during their useful life. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for identifying stream instability problems at highway stream crossings. Techniques for stream channel classification and reconnaissance, as well as rapid assessment methods for channel instability are summarized. Qualitative and quantitative geomorphic and engineering techniques useful in stream channel stability analysis are presented. This publication is an update of the third edition published in 2001. The HEC-20 manual covers geomorphic and hydraulic factors that affect stream stability and provides a step-by-step analysis procedure for evaluation of stream stability problems. Stream channel classification, stream reconnaissance techniques, and rapid assessment methods for channel stability are covered in detail. Quantitative techniques for channel stability analysis, including degradation analysis, are provided, and channel restoration concepts are introduced. Significant new material in this edition includes chapters on sediment transport concepts and channel stability in gravel bed streams, as well as expanded coverage of channel restoration concepts.