Protective measures used at abutments consist of the following:

Vertical abutment walls will protect bridge ends and the embankment if the walls are extended around the fill slopes to below the depth of anticipated scour. Sheet pile toe walls are usually installed to repair scour damage after a flood. They are commonly used where rock is not available or access for placing rock is difficult. Sheet pile may be used only under guidance from the Bridge Division’s Geotechnical Branch.

Revetment is usually placed at the abutment on the slopes under the bridge end and around the corners of the embankment to guard against progressive embankment erosion. Revetment on the fill slope may be susceptible to contraction scour. To prevent embankment failure from undermining by contraction scour, a toewall must be extended below the level of expected scour.

Two common types of revetments used to protect abutments are rigid (i.e. concrete riprap) and flexible (i.e. stone protection, articulated concrete blocks, and gabion mattresses). A unique feature of stone protection is can be designed to be self launching. That is, the rocks will shift to fill any area that scours and inhibit any further scour.