BEAR GULCH RD
Carrying BEAR GULCH RD over CLARK FORK RIVER 002
1M NE BEARMOUTH, Granite, Montana
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: BEAR GULCH RD
The BEAR GULCH RD bridge in Granite, Montana carries BEAR GULCH RD over CLARK FORK RIVER 002. It was built in 1986, making it 40 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 3 sections, stretching 51.8 meters (170 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 128 vehicles, placing it in the lower-traffic tier of Montana bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 29.9 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How BEAR GULCH RD 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1986
- Material
- Prestressed Concrete
- Number of Spans
- 3
- Structure Length
- 51.8 m (170 ft)
- Deck Width
- 7.9 m (26 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 128 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- L20009000+01001
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) is in poor condition (4/9), showing advanced deterioration that may require priority repair.
- • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good condition (7/9), showing no significant deterioration.
- • At 7/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
How to read this record
BEAR GULCH RD is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
- Compare BEAR GULCH RD against other structures in Granite 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 BEAR GULCH RD?
BEAR GULCH RD in Granite, Montana has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is BEAR GULCH RD inspected?
BEAR GULCH RD'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 128 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. BEAR GULCH RD is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for BEAR GULCH RD?
BEAR GULCH RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 29.9 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining BEAR GULCH RD?
BEAR GULCH RD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is BEAR GULCH RD and does age affect safety?
BEAR GULCH RD was built in 1986, making it 40 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.