I 94
Carrying I 94 over YELLOWSTONE RIVER
1M N FALLON, Prairie, Montana
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: I 94
The I 94 bridge in Prairie, Montana carries I 94 over YELLOWSTONE RIVER. It was built in 1978, making it 48 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 4 sections, stretching 356.4 meters (1169 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,191 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Montana bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 21.4 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How I 94 compares
Live comparison across Montana.
Historical Sufficiency Rating
PlainBridge-computedFHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1978
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 4
- Structure Length
- 356.4 m (1169 ft)
- Deck Width
- 13.4 m (44 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,191 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- I00094186+09711
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 6/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
- • At 6/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) shows fair condition, with minor wear flagged for upkeep.
How to read this record
This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether I 94 is safe to cross today. Here is how to use it.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Learn how the 0–9 condition scale and Good/Fair/Poor categories are defined. How condition ratings work
- Compare I 94 against other structures in Prairie and across Montana. Montana bridges
- Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge
Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the condition ratings mean for I 94?
I 94 in Prairie, Montana has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is I 94 inspected?
I 94's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 2,191 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. I 94 is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for I 94?
I 94 has an NBI inventory load rating of 21.4 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining I 94?
I 94 is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is I 94 and does age affect safety?
I 94 was built in 1978, making it 48 years old.
Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.
Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.