State profile · Near median Poor share

Montana bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in Montana.

5,224
Public bridges
31.5%
Good condition
6.8%
Poor condition

Montana holds 5,224 public highway bridges (#36 of 52 by inventory) with a 6.81% Poor share (#20 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 6.8% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 33 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

5,224

Public highway bridges in Montana

Good Condition

31.5%

1,646 bridges rated 7-9

-18.5pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

6.8%

356 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-0.7pp vs national avg 7.5%

Montana vs national bridge condition

Montana - Good condition share 31.5%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Montana - Poor-condition share 22.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Montana in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Montana has 5,224 bridges and a 6.8% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #33 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Montana has 5,224 bridges and a 6.8% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #33 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

Montana vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

5,224 36th of 54 higher than 18 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for Montana

The highlighted point is Montana: 5,224 bridges and 6.81% in Poor condition, rank #33 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Montana on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Hawaii: 1,195 bridges · 6.53% Poor
  • North Carolina: 19,210 bridges · 6.76% Poor
  • Montana: 5,224 bridges · 6.81% Poor
  • Kentucky: 14,548 bridges · 7.37% Poor
  • New Hampshire: 2,542 bridges · 7.51% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Montana

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 5,224 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Montana’s inventory

State agency holds 46.3% of the 5,224 public highway bridges filed under Montana in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Montana’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 11.7% of the 5,224 bridges with a recorded original year in Montana. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Montana31.5%61.7%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Montana (FHWA NBI)

Counties (56)

Beaverhead 226 Big Horn 135 Blaine 102 Broadwater 37 Carbon 80 Carter 41 Cascade 185 Chouteau 42 Custer 71 Daniels 33 Dawson 109 Deer Lodge 68 Fallon 37 Fergus 158 Flathead 204 Gallatin 210 Garfield 26 Glacier 71 Golden Valley 17 Granite 73 Hill 46 Jefferson 134 Judith Basin 48 Lake 117 Lewis and Clark 200 Liberty 11 Lincoln 190 Madison 97 McCone 44 Meagher 53 Mineral 152 Missoula 206 Musselshell 28 Park 124 Petroleum 26 Phillips 101 Pondera 96 Powder River 23 Powell 113 Prairie 46 Ravalli 148 Richland 97 Roosevelt 57 Rosebud 114 Sanders 120 Sheridan 66 Silver Bow 68 Stillwater 92 Sweet Grass 94 Teton 82 Toole 35 Treasure 26 Valley 104 Wheatland 26 Wibaux 25 Yellowstone 290

Montana vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below Montana on the same metric.

HI

Hawaii

6.53% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,195

NC

North Carolina

6.76% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$19,210
Selected

MT

Montana

6.81% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,224

KY

Kentucky

7.37% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,548

NH

New Hampshire

7.51% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$2,542

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Montana

Six lowest-condition bridges in Montana, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

UPPER HIGHWOOD CR

Poor

Over: HIGHWOOD CREEK 076

4M SE HIGHWOOD, Chouteau, MT

Built 1969 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

ROAD 290 N

Poor

Over: CANADIAN COULEE 036

30M N INVERNESS, Hill, MT

Built 1980 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

BLACK COULEE RD

Poor

Over: BLACK COULEE 072

28M N DODSON, Phillips, MT

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 49

SLEEPY HOLLOW LN

Poor

Over: PRICKLY PEAR CREEK

3 M S MONTANA CITY, Jefferson, MT

Built 2010 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 100

HWY 91 N

Poor

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 041

22M N DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1940 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 155

CARBINE RD

Poor

Over: PABLO CANAL 026

4M W PABLO, Lake, MT

Built 1986 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 100

All Bridges in Montana

US 87

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION RESERVOIR

6M NW GRASS RANGE, Fergus, MT

Built 1939 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,300

IRR - S 66

Fair

Over: PEOPLES CREEK

19M S FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Blaine, MT

Built 1952 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 758

S 80

Fair

Over: RR

1M NW FORT BENTON, Chouteau, MT

Built 1953 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 844

S 81

Fair

Over: COFFEE CREEK

COFFEE CREEK, Fergus, MT

Built 1952 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 345

S 89

Fair

Over: INT NORTH DILLON I 15

DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1973 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,106

SOLLID RD

Fair

Over: PONDERA COULEE

10M E CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1964 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 69

YORK RD

Fair

Over: MISSOURI RIVER

14M NE HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1982 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 470

PORCUPINE BUTTE RD

Fair

Over: AMERICAN FORK CREEK 002

12M S TWO DOT, Wheatland, MT

Built 1960 Load: 19.2 t ADT: 100

WOODBINE CAMPGRD

Fair

Over: STILLWATER RIVER

1-LANE ROAD, Stillwater, MT

Built 1962 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 99

SUCKER KP KL ROAD

Fair

Over: COPPER CREEK

KEEP KOOL-COPPER, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1962 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 34

SUNDAY CR ROAD

Fair

Over: SUNDAY CR

SUNDAY CR, Flathead, MT

Built 1982 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 40

472 BURNT DUTCH RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK YAAK RIVER

JCT 472 & 68, Lincoln, MT

Built 1957 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 25

MOORE RD

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK 034

21M NW HAMMOND, Carter, MT

Built 1938 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 100

WILLOW CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT CANAL 061

4M E CORVALLIS, Ravalli, MT

Built 1964 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 100

BLOODY D--- ROAD

Fair

Over: BLOODY D--- CR

BLOODY D--- CR, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1961 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 2

1-LANE ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST ROSEBUD CREEK

EMERALD LAKE INLET, Stillwater, MT

Built 1965 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: BISON CREEK

BERNICE JUNCTION, Jefferson, MT

Built 1986 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50

FDR 6414

Fair

Over: SHEEP CREEK

0.1 MI N US89/FDR6413 JCT, Meagher, MT

Built 1958 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50

NFSR 834

Fair

Over: HARLEY CREEK

0.2 MILES WEST US89, Cascade, MT

Built 1953 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50

RD 56

Fair

Over: W F THOMPSON RIV

THOMPSON RIVER, Sanders, MT

Built 1935 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50

LONE TREE RD

Fair

Over: RED LODGE CREEK 045

1M NW BOYD, Carbon, MT

Built 1972 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 100

ASHLEY LAKE RD

Fair

Over: ASHLEY CREEK 096

7M NE MARION, Flathead, MT

Built 1999 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 151

FISHING ACCESS

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL

5M S ENNIS, Madison, MT

Built 1991 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

ROAD 201

Fair

Over: NICHOLS COULEE

SECT 10 T21N R27E, Phillips, MT

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 15

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: HUGHES CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1964 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 10

I 15

Fair

Over: HIGHLAND ROAD

7.4M N DIVIDE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1976 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,436

I 90

Fair

Over: ST. REGIS RIVER

4.3M W ST. REGIS, Mineral, MT

Built 1981 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 3,180

I 90

Fair

Over: RR

0.6M W BONNER, Missoula, MT

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 6,035

I 90

Fair

Over: RR

5.6M W WHITEHALL, Jefferson, MT

Built 1966 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 4,591

I 90

Fair

Over: MISSION CREEK

9.9M E LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1987 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 5,692

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: INT GARRYOWEN

5.6M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1976 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,055

I 94

Fair

Over: BIGHORN RIVER

0.6M W BIGHORN, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,580

I 94

Fair

Over: INT GRIFFITH CREEK

9M E GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1979 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,082

FLY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: INT BALLANTINE-I 90 003

16M W HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1972 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

BALA ST

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER 069

CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1958 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

ROAD 261

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL 042

15M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1920 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 21

S 569

Fair

Over: FRENCH CREEK 043

21M SW ANACONDA, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1950 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 288

16 MILE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MID FORK 16-MILE CR 072

4M E MAUDLOW, Gallatin, MT

Built 1996 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

PINE BUTTE RD

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL 114

6M S BELGRADE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1992 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

FISH HATCHERY RD

Fair

Over: POST CREEK 075

4M N ST IGNATIUS, Lake, MT

Built 1920 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

BURMA RD

Fair

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 015

14M NW SHERIDAN, Madison, MT

Built 1987 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

STYLER DR

Fair

Over: GLACIER CREEK 059

1M SW CONDON, Missoula, MT

Built 1970 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

SWANSON RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 062

3M N VALIER, Pondera, MT

Built 1986 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

YELLOWSTONE TRAIL

Fair

Over: RACETRACK CREEK 036

2M W RACETRACK, Powell, MT

Built 2006 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

E FORK RD

Fair

Over: E FORK BITTERROOT R 009

14M NE SULA, Ravalli, MT

Built 1947 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 303

E BOULDER RD

Fair

Over: E BOULDER RIVER 033

5M S MCLEOD, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1969 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

CACHE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK CASH CR 049

12M N HINSDALE, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

US 2

Fair

Over: FISHER RIVER

14M W HAPPY`S INN, Lincoln, MT

Built 1987 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,480

IRR - US 93

Fair

Over: FLATHEAD RIVER

POLSON, Lake, MT

Built 1966 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 8,324

US 287

Fair

Over: DEARBORN RIVER

14M NW WOLF CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 457

Showing 451-500 of 5,224 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What to do with this

Use Montana's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Montana and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Montana Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.