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

CANYON RD

Poor

Over: SMITH RIVER 002

8M NW WHITE SULPHUR SPR, Meagher, MT

Built 1957 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 100

ELK CREEK RD

Poor

Over: SHIELDS RIVER 018

3M NE WILSALL, Park, MT

Built 1960 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: SUNDAY CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Lincoln, MT

Built 1998 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 25

IRR BIA RTE 205

Poor

Over: UPPER LODGE GRASS CREEK

6.8 KM NW JCT 205 & 418, Big Horn, MT

Built 1994 Load: 13.1 t ADT: 12

MIDDLE RD

Poor

Over: BATTLE CREEK 056

4M N CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1920 Load: 13.2 t ADT: 100

NORTH AVE W

Poor

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER 010

W MISSOULA, Missoula, MT

Built 1935 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 3,605

MERIDIAN RD

Poor

Over: BEAR CREEK 015

2M S VICTOR, Ravalli, MT

Built 1936 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

HENTGES RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE PORCUPINE CR 064

FRAZER-HENTGES RD, Valley, MT

Built 1965 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

STAGECOACH TRL RD

Poor

Over: BAKER CREEK 082

2M NW BELGRADE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1959 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

SHIELDS RIVER RD E

Poor

Over: SHIELDS RIVER 023

8M NE LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1923 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

LOWER HARB RD

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK 092

14M E MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1968 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

8TH LN NE

Poor

Over: GREENFIELD SO CANAL 039

8M NE FAIRFIELD, Teton, MT

Built 1966 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

FDR 7391

Poor

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1987 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 5

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: ROCK CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Sanders, MT

Built 1954 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: WISE RIVER

SHEEP CR., Beaverhead, MT

Built 1992 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 6

SEIFERT RD

Poor

Over: PABLO A CANAL 083

6M SW POLSON, Lake, MT

Built 1960 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

OLD HWY 10 W

Poor

Over: CLARK FORK 054

3M W ALBERTON, Mineral, MT

Built 1932 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 349

MONTFORT RD

Poor

Over: BUFFALO COULEE 108

1M S VANDALIA, Valley, MT

Built 1950 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 23

STATION ROAD

Poor

Over: BOULDER RIVER

BOX CANYON ADMIN SITE, Park, MT

Built 1947 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 1

FDR #8983

Poor

Over: N FK SUN RIVER

HANNAN GULCH, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1927 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 99

COUNTY ROAD 542

Poor

Over: THIRTEEN MILE CR 061

5M NW INTAKE, Dawson, MT

Built 1964 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 100

BENTONITE RD

Poor

Over: VANDALIA SOUTH CANAL 089

4M W GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1938 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 100

524 MEADOW CR. RD.

Poor

Over: N F MEADOW CR

.1 MILE PAST JCT 5961, Lincoln, MT

Built 1953 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 25

FOREST ROAD

Poor

Over: HAND CREEK

SYLVIA LAKE ROAD, Flathead, MT

Built 2010 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: VERMILION RIVER

SEVEN POINT MTN, Sanders, MT

Built 1959 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 50

AXTELL ANCENY RD

Poor

Over: GALLATIN RIVER 084

2M N GALLATIN GATEWAY, Gallatin, MT

Built 1919 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 289

ROCKY BUTTE RD

Poor

Over: CROW CREEK 070

2M SW RONAN, Lake, MT

Built 1986 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 126

NFSR #487

Poor

Over: S FK JUDITH RIVER

15 MI. SW OF UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1958 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 65

HARVEY RD

Poor

Over: MUSSELSHELL RIVER 018

3M SW MELSTONE, Musselshell, MT

Built 1916 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

W LAKE RD

Poor

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK 046

3M W MEDICINE LAKE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1950 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 68

6TH LN NE

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE 129

13M SW DUTTON, Teton, MT

Built 1974 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

CARLYLE RD E

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

6M W CARLYLE, Wibaux, MT

Built 1960 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 38

RD 343-2

Poor

Over: S FK FISH CREEK

FISH CR LOLO CR, Mineral, MT

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 50

FISH CR RD

Poor

Over: W FK FISH CREEK

FISH CR LOLO CR, Mineral, MT

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 50

CANYON CR ROAD

Poor

Over: CANYON CR

CANYON CR, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1952 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 50

FISH CR RD

Poor

Over: S FK FISH CREEK

FISH CR LOLO CR, Mineral, MT

Built 1965 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 50

EKEGREN RD

Poor

Over: THIRTY MILE CREEK 097

3M E HARLEM, Blaine, MT

Built 1938 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: BOULDER CR

BOULDER CREEK, Granite, MT

Built 1949 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

NFSR #487

Poor

Over: S FK JUDITH RIVER

18 MI SW OF UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1958 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 65

NFSR #487

Poor

Over: S FK JUDITH RIVER

19 MI. SW OF UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1958 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 65

FDR 267

Poor

Over: JEFFERSON CREEK

0.1 MI EAST US89/267 JCT, Cascade, MT

Built 1957 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

I 90

Poor

Over: SEP ELIZABETH LN

9.9M W ALBERTON, Mineral, MT

Built 1965 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,036

IRR - US 191

Poor

Over: WILD HORSE CREEK

20M SW MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1940 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 375

S 529-CLEAR CR RD

Poor

Over: MILK RIVER

1M W CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1967 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 254

CRAIG FRONTAGE RD

Poor

Over: MISSOURI RIVER 054

2M NE WOLF CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1933 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 390

SHIELDS RIVER RD E

Poor

Over: SHIELDS RIVER OVERFL 022

8M NE LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1938 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 100

OLD US 10

Poor

Over: BIG DITCH 051

4M W LAUREL, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1932 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,474

NFSR 495

Poor

Over: TELEGRAPH CREEK

TELEGRAPH-TELEGRAPH, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1950 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 30

384 SPAR LAKE RD.

Poor

Over: SPAR CR

2.1 MI PAST CAMPGROUND, Lincoln, MT

Built 1955 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 10

NFSR #487

Poor

Over: S FK JUDITH RIVER

19 MI SW OF UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1958 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 65

Showing 4,951-5,000 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.