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 12

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

3M W INGOMAR, Rosebud, MT

Built 1947 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 144

IRR - S 28

Fair

Over: HOT SPRINGS CREEK

2M NE CAMAS, Sanders, MT

Built 1959 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,140

US 191

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

23M N WEST YELLOWSTONE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,481

US 89

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER

6M NE LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,146

S 201

Fair

Over: N FORK FIRST HAY CREEK

10M W FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1937 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 851

S 201

Fair

Over: SECOND HAY CREEK

5M W FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1937 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 722

CLEVELAND RD

Fair

Over: MILK RIVER

CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1964 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 849

S 261

Fair

Over: O`BRIEN CREEK

9M S SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1977 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 86

IRR - S 313

Fair

Over: INDIAN SERVICE CANAL

10M SW ST XAVIER, Big Horn, MT

Built 1962 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 500

MILLEGAN RD

Fair

Over: SMITH RIVER

5M SE ULM, Cascade, MT

Built 1950 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 292

S 366-LEDGER RD

Fair

Over: DRY FORK MARIAS RIVER

LEDGER, Pondera, MT

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 128

S 446

Fair

Over: RR

1M W ROSEBUD, Rosebud, MT

Built 1970 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 255

N MONTANA AVE

Fair

Over: HELENA VALLEY CANAL

1M N HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1958 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 11,526

S ORANGE ST

Fair

Over: CLARK FORK RIVER

MISSOULA-S ORANGE ST, Missoula, MT

Built 2003 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 22,614

RUBY-CENTENNTIAL

Fair

Over: EAST FK RUBY RIVER

EAST FK RUBY RIVER, Madison, MT

Built 1954 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: FLINT CREEK

5 MI. N. OF P-BURG ON HWY, Granite, MT

Built 2001 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

NFSR #487

Fair

Over: S FK JUDITH RIVER

16 MI SW OF UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1958 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 65

NFSR #487

Fair

Over: S FK JUDITH RIVER

19 MI. SW OF UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1958 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 65

GRIZZLE CAMP RD

Fair

Over: RANCH CR

GRIZZLY CAMP, Granite, MT

Built 1958 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

RD 153

Fair

Over: CLEAR CR

CLEAR CR, Sanders, MT

Built 1968 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

NPS SERVICE ROAD

Fair

Over: UPPER DIVIDE CREEK

Just south of Going-to-th, Glacier, MT

Built 1970 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

UPPER ROCK CR RD

Fair

Over: STONY CREEK 011

19M W PHILLIPSBURG, Granite, MT

Built 1999 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 592

FRONTAGE ROAD 153

Fair

Over: CLARK FORK RIVER 034

14M W DRUMMOND, Granite, MT

Built 1970 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 267

CASTLE BUTTE RD

Fair

Over: HIBBARD CREEK 187

12M N POMPEY`S PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1997 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 100

PINEVIEW RD

Fair

Over: DEADMAN CREEK 128

30M NW CUSTER, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1997 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 100

FS ROUTE 83

Fair

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER

BIG HOLE RIVER, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1950 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

FOREST ROAD

Fair

Over: HALL CREEK

SWAN LAKE CAMPGROUND, Flathead, MT

Built 1997 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

RD 231

Fair

Over: W FISHER CR

THUNDER MTN RANCH, Lincoln, MT

Built 1954 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

NFSR 834

Fair

Over: GRAVEYARD GULCH CREEK

1.4 MILES WEST US89, Cascade, MT

Built 1953 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

FDR #204

Fair

Over: MOOSE CREEK

6 MI NE OF RD 119/204 JCT, Meagher, MT

Built 1956 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

WEST FK BUTTE RD

Fair

Over: LOLO CR

WEST FK BUTTE, Missoula, MT

Built 1936 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

RD 7583

Fair

Over: W FORK SWAMP CR

BEMISH CR, Sanders, MT

Built 1970 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

MARSHALL LAKE RD

Fair

Over: W FK CLEARWATER RIVER

MARSHALL LK, Missoula, MT

Built 1963 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 540

RD 153

Fair

Over: CLEAR CR

CLEAR CR, Sanders, MT

Built 1968 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 50

I 15

Fair

Over: MISSOURI RVR-RR-LOCAL

5M N CRAIG, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1971 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 2,224

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER

8M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1956 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 2,055

LOWER CANAL RD

Fair

Over: FLY CREEK 143

2M SW POMPEY`S PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1983 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 100

1127: DRY FORK

Fair

Over: BEAUCHAMP CREEK

13 mi SE of US 191, Phillips, MT

Built 1972 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 25

FDR 90

Fair

Over: STEEL CR

STEEL CR, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1954 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 40

ROUTE 362

Fair

Over: W F BITTERROOT

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1957 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 20

LOOKOUT CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

1 MI FROM BIG CREEK RD, Flathead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 10

PINKHAM TENMILE RD

Fair

Over: PINKHAM CR

PINKHAM CR, Lincoln, MT

Built 1992 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 50

LITTLE HORN RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER 072

8M SW WYOLA, Big Horn, MT

Built 1952 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 243

BELLE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE POWDER RIVER 011

20M S BROADUS, Powder River, MT

Built 1970 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 50

THORNING LOOP

Fair

Over: RYE CREEK 064

4M S DARBY, Ravalli, MT

Built 1975 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 100

E REDSTONE RD

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK 021

E REDSTONE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1960 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 100

CEMETERY RD

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK 039

2M W PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1940 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 100

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: HENSLEY CREEK 014

5M SE COLUMBUS, Stillwater, MT

Built 1928 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 1,607

OLD HWY 10

Fair

Over: BIGHORN RIVER 126

4M E CUSTER, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1930 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 100

WATER STREET

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK 059

LEWISTOWN-WATER ST, Fergus, MT

Built 1930 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 100

Showing 501-550 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.