High-capacity, small-diameter piles installed beneath or adjacent to existing foundations to restore bearing capacity and limit settlement.
GeoStabilization International provides engineered scour mitigation solutions that protect bridge abutments, piers, and foundations from erosion and undermining caused by flowing water. GSI’s systems are designed to stabilize soils, maintain load-bearing capacity, and reduce risk to public safety and infrastructure performance across Canada.
Every bridge site presents unique hydraulic and geotechnical challenges. GSI engineers evaluate soil conditions, foundation geometry, water velocities, and seasonal flow patterns to develop site-specific scour mitigation systems. By combining engineering analysis with field-proven construction methods, GSI helps extend bridge service life, maintain safe access, and reduce long-term maintenance costs for transportation agencies and infrastructure owners.
Scour mitigation addresses erosion and soil loss around bridge foundations caused by moving water. Accelerated flow near abutments or piers can remove supporting material, creating voids that compromise foundation stability. If left unaddressed, scour can lead to settlement, rotation, or structural failure.
GSI’s scour mitigation systems are designed to reinforce vulnerable soils and protect exposed foundations while restoring stability where erosion has already occurred. Each solution is tailored to site-specific hydraulic forces, sediment characteristics, and structural demands, with the goal of preventing future erosion while maintaining full load-bearing performance.
GSI offers a range of engineered scour mitigation methods for bridge foundations and other water-adjacent infrastructure:
High-capacity, small-diameter piles installed beneath or adjacent to existing foundations to restore bearing capacity and limit settlement.
Interlocking steel or composite barriers that stabilize soils and shield abutments from ongoing erosion in high-flow or deep-channel environments.
Strategic placement of riprap or engineered stone to dissipate hydraulic energy and protect exposed foundations from scour.
Precision grouting that fills voids and densifies eroded soils, improving strength, cohesion, and long-term stability beneath foundations.
Inspection programs and monitoring systems that detect scour activity early, allowing timely intervention and reduced lifecycle risk.
A proactive scour mitigation program provides measurable benefits for infrastructure owners and the public:
Incorporating scour mitigation into routine inspection and maintenance programs helps ensure reliable, long-term performance of bridge assets.
Scour is a leading cause of bridge distress, and Canada’s climate intensifies this risk. Heavy rainfall, spring runoff, ice movement, and fluctuating water levels accelerate erosion across regions ranging from British Columbia’s mountain rivers to Prairie floodplains and Ontario’s Great Lakes tributaries.
GSI designs scour mitigation systems to perform under these demanding conditions using corrosion-resistant materials, marine-grade grouts, and durable armour systems suited for freshwater and coastal environments. Many installations can be completed with limited excavation and reduced in-water work, helping bridges remain operational while minimizing environmental disturbance.
Through GSI’s design-build-warranty approach, scour mitigation projects are engineered, constructed, and performance-verified to deliver long-term reliability and accountability.
If your bridge or culvert foundations show signs of erosion, undermining, or settlement, GSI can help. Contact our team to assess site conditions and develop a scour mitigation strategy that protects foundations, maintains safe access, and extends infrastructure service life.
Complete our contact form to request an assessment and learn how GSI’s engineered scour mitigation solutions can safeguard your bridge assets.
