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

HESPER RD

Fair

Over: BBWA CANAL 117

3M SW BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1938 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 4,877

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: OVERWHICH CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1972 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2

I 15

Fair

Over: BEAVERHD R-HIGH BRDG RD

1.2M N CLARK CANYON DAM, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1964 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,836

I 15

Fair

Over: INT MOOSE CREEK

3.1M S DIVIDE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,221

I 15

Fair

Over: INT MOOSE CREEK

3.1M S DIVIDE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,221

I 15

Fair

Over: RR

1M N SUNBURST, Toole, MT

Built 1977 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 862

I 90

Fair

Over: MADISON RIVER-RR

0.6M E THREE FORKS, Gallatin, MT

Built 1964 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 9,524

I 90

Fair

Over: JARRETT CR FARM ACCESS

3.1M E SPRINGDALE, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1981 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 6,078

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP COUNTY ROAD

5M W BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1981 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 6,078

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP COUNTY ROAD

5M W BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1981 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 6,078

I 90

Fair

Over: BRIDGER CREEK

6.8M E GREYCLIFF, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1972 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,353

I 90

Fair

Over: RR

6.2M E REED POINT, Stillwater, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,353

I 90

Fair

Over: INT COLUMBUS-9TH ST N

COLUMBUS, Stillwater, MT

Built 1971 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,961

I 90

Fair

Over: INT COLUMBUS-9TH ST N

COLUMBUS, Stillwater, MT

Built 1971 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,470

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER

2.5M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1956 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,439

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: SEP RENO CREEK ROAD

8.7M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1980 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,055

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: SEP RENO CREEK ROAD

8.7M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1980 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,055

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: INT LODGE GRASS

LODGE GRASS, Big Horn, MT

Built 1980 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,978

I 94

Fair

Over: HUNTLEY CANAL

2.5M W POMPEYS PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1968 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,577

RIVER RD

Fair

Over: BIRD CREEK 036

5M NE CASCADE, Cascade, MT

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

OLD ULM CASCADE RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE MUDDY CREEK 067

7M NE CASCADE, Cascade, MT

Built 1987 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

OLD US 91

Fair

Over: PREWETT CREEK 070

10M S CASCADE, Cascade, MT

Built 1931 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 314

STEWART ST

Fair

Over: SEP I 90 003

5M S WARM SPRINGS, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1964 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 109

VALENTINE RD

Fair

Over: BLOOD CREEK 132

25M N WINNETT, Fergus, MT

Built 1986 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

LWR COTTONWOOD CR

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 034

8M W LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 2009 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 26

DELREY RD

Fair

Over: SWIFT CREEK 072

7M NW WHITEFISH, Flathead, MT

Built 1935 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

W VALLEY DR

Fair

Over: ASHLEY CREEK 170

1M W KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 1970 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

VAN NORMAN RD

Fair

Over: BIG DRY CREEK 016

26M NE JORDAN, Garfield, MT

Built 1959 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

ROAD 15 N

Fair

Over: SAGE CREEK 035

24M N JOPLIN, Hill, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

TERRACE LAKE RD

Fair

Over: N CROW CREEK 021

1M E RONAN, Lake, MT

Built 1965 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

CRAIG FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: WEGNER CREEK 055

CRAIG, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1934 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 327

LOON LAKE RD

Fair

Over: FORTINE CREEK 131

W TREGO, Lincoln, MT

Built 1981 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

CLIFF LAKE RD

Fair

Over: MADISON RIVER 045

36M S ENNIS, Madison, MT

Built 2001 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

PINE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER 069

1M W PINE CREEK, Park, MT

Built 1990 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 360

UPPER HARB RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 057

16M E MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

S FRONTAGE RD 011

Fair

Over: DEMPSEY CREEK 059

5M S DEER LODGE, Powell, MT

Built 1930 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 899

BOWMAN RD

Fair

Over: BLODGETT CREEK 024

2M NW HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1993 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,922

IRRCOUNTY ROAD 380

Fair

Over: SMOKE CREEK 017

20M N BROCKTON, Roosevelt, MT

Built 1957 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

SCHIFFER RD

Fair

Over: SEP I 94 SCHIFFER RD 013

1M E FORSYTH, Rosebud, MT

Built 1977 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

REED POINT RD

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER 004

NW REED POINT, Stillwater, MT

Built 2000 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 174

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: BIG DITCH 010

PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1928 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 726

9TH LN NW

Fair

Over: SPRING VALLEY CANAL 047

13M NW FAIRFIELD, Teton, MT

Built 1975 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

4TH LN NE

Fair

Over: GREENFIELD CANAL 044

5M NE FAIRFIELD, Teton, MT

Built 1982 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

HAINES RANCH RD

Fair

Over: SEP I 94 016

3M SE SANDERS, Treasure, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

FLY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: FLY CREEK 139

4M SW POMPAY`S PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1960 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

DUCK CREEK RD

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK 022

SW BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1967 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

CENTRAL AVE

Fair

Over: RUSSELL CREEK 001

EKALAKA-CENTRAL AVE, Carter, MT

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

US 2

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

3M E CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,067

US 2

Fair

Over: MILK RIVER

NW EDGE MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1952 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,647

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: INDIAN SERVICE CANAL

FRAZER, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,438

Showing 851-900 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.