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 93 FH 19

Fair

Over: E FORK BITTERROOT RIVER

5M SE CONNER, Ravalli, MT

Built 1937 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,069

US 87

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER

BILLINGS-DICK JOHNSTON BR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1993 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 23,275

S 1

Fair

Over: FLINT CREEK

4M N MAXVILLE, Granite, MT

Built 1931 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,123

S 16

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL

1M N SAVAGE, Richland, MT

Built 1974 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,407

S 200 EB

Fair

Over: BLACKFOOT RIVER

5M W POTOMAC, Missoula, MT

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,301

S 200

Fair

Over: LANDERS FORK

4M NE LINCOLN, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,982

S 7

Fair

Over: FLASTED DRAW

5M NE EKALAKA, Carter, MT

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 390

S 7

Fair

Over: SHEEP CAMP CREEK

11M NE EKALAKA, Carter, MT

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 390

S 287

Fair

Over: ALDER CREEK

LAURIN, Madison, MT

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,862

S 5

Fair

Over: MAIN CREEK

9M SW WESTBY, Sheridan, MT

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 307

IRR - S 24

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

15M S OPHEIM, Valley, MT

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 290

IRR - S 13

Fair

Over: MIDWAY COULEE

21M S SCOBEY, Roosevelt, MT

Built 1932 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 179

IRR - S 39

Fair

Over: RR

21M NW OF COLSTRIP, Rosebud, MT

Built 1983 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 868

IRR - S 39

Fair

Over: ARMELLS CREEK

22M NW OF COLSTRIP, Rosebud, MT

Built 1983 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 868

S 141

Fair

Over: BLACKFOOT RIVER

7M NE HELMVILLE, Powell, MT

Built 2004 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,643

US 191-KENDALL RD

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

LEWISTOWN-KENDALL RD, Fergus, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,046

US 191

Fair

Over: SWEET GRASS CREEK

2M S MELVILLE, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1947 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 657

US 191

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

12M S HARLOWTON, Wheatland, MT

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 702

S 41

Fair

Over: STONE CREEK

9M NE DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1949 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,326

US 191 FH 42

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

4M NE BIG SKY, Gallatin, MT

Built 1952 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 8,666

S 56 FH 5

Fair

Over: BULL RIVER

17M NW NOXON, Sanders, MT

Built 1960 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 679

US 87

Fair

Over: BOYD CREEK

3M E LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,477

IRR - US 191

Fair

Over: LITTLE WARM CREEK

31M SW MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1947 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 375

IRR - US 191

Fair

Over: WILD HORSE CR OVERFLOW

21M SW MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 375

IRR - US 191

Fair

Over: ALKALI CREEK

7M SW MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1994 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 413

IRR - S 66

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK PEOPLES CREEK

12M NW HAYS, Blaine, MT

Built 1959 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 971

S 67

Fair

Over: FRONT ST-RR

SHELBY, Toole, MT

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,148

S 80

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

6M NE STANFORD, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1934 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 243

FRONTAGE RD-S 205

Fair

Over: CAMP CREEK

2M SE MANHATTAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1920 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,232

S 244

Fair

Over: PIKE CREEK

FLATWILLOW, Petroleum, MT

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 232

S 244

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

FLATWILLOW, Petroleum, MT

Built 1935 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 232

TAMPICO RD

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK OVERFLOW

1M W GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 478

DIAMOND MATCH RD

Fair

Over: RR

3M SE SUPERIOR, Mineral, MT

Built 1955 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 703

LINCOLN RD W

Fair

Over: LITTLE PRICKLY PEAR CR

2M NW CANYON CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1949 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 394

LINCOLN RD W

Fair

Over: CANYON CREEK

6M NW CANYON CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1949 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 394

MAIN BOULDER RD

Fair

Over: BOULDER RIVER

8M S BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1975 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 526

MAIN BOULDER RD

Fair

Over: WEST BOULDER RIVER

MCLEOD, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1976 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 526

IRR - S 314

Fair

Over: ROSEBUD CREEK

11M SW BUSBY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1983 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 386

S 332

Fair

Over: PUMPKIN CREEK

12M S MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1959 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 198

SARPY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER

3M E HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1962 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 511

S 462

Fair

Over: LITTLE DRY CREEK

19M N ROCK SPRINGS, Garfield, MT

Built 1960 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 50

DUCK LAKE RD

Fair

Over: CUT BANK CREEK

4M N BROWNING, Glacier, MT

Built 1965 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,040

IRR - SR 480

Fair

Over: MISSOURI RIVER

9M SW BROCKTON, Richland, MT

Built 1968 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 134

S 556-THOMPSON R R

Fair

Over: THOMPSON RIVER

25M SW MARION, Flathead, MT

Built 1994 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 60

S 565

Fair

Over: GREENFIELD SOUTH CANAL

7M N SIMMS, Teton, MT

Built 1969 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 449

7TH AVE N

Fair

Over: RR

HAVRE-7TH AVE N, Hill, MT

Built 1936 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,384

FOREST ROAD

Fair

Over: SKYLAND CREEK

SKYLAND CREEK AREA, Flathead, MT

Built 1963 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 20

GUT CREEK RD

Fair

Over: PINKHAM CR

PINKHAM CR, Lincoln, MT

Built 1968 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 50

FROZEN LAKE ROAD

Fair

Over: WEASEL CR

WEASEL CR, Lincoln, MT

Built 1957 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 50

331 RABBIT OBRIEN

Fair

Over: OBRIEN CR

BETWEEN JCTS W/4445 LOOP, Lincoln, MT

Built 1980 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 40

Showing 901-950 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.