HOWIE RD
Carrying HOWIE RD over DRAINAGE 021
3M NE BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, Montana
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: HOWIE RD
The HOWIE RD bridge in Sweet Grass, Montana carries HOWIE RD over DRAINAGE 021. It was built in 1923, making it 103 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 2001, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 1 section, stretching 7.3 meters (24 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 163 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 7/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. All reported major components score above the Poor range. Its NBI inventory load rating is 38.1 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How HOWIE 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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
- 1923
- Last Reconstructed
- 2001
- Material
- Steel
- Number of Spans
- 1
- Structure Length
- 7.3 m (24 ft)
- Deck Width
- 9.3 m (31 ft)
- Owner
- County Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 163 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- L49014000+05001
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.
- • 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 HOWIE RD 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 HOWIE RD against other structures in Sweet Grass 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 HOWIE RD?
HOWIE RD in Sweet Grass, Montana has a deck rating of 7/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is HOWIE RD inspected?
HOWIE 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 163 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. HOWIE RD 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 HOWIE RD?
HOWIE RD has an NBI inventory load rating of 38.1 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining HOWIE RD?
HOWIE RD is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.
How old is HOWIE RD and does age affect safety?
HOWIE RD was built in 1923, making it 103 years old and last reconstructed in 2001.
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.