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

W FK CLEARWATER RD

Fair

Over: CLEARWATER RIVER

W FK CLEARWATER RIV, Missoula, MT

Built 1951 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 40

HOMER DAVIS RD

Fair

Over: TWELVE MILE CREEK 041

4M SW SHEPHERD, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1999 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 100

VAN HOUTEN ROAD

Fair

Over: PIONEER CR

PIONEER CR, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1981 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 25

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Powell, MT

Built 2010 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 40

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: LITTLE WEST FORK CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1968 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 5

RED MDW CR ROAD

Fair

Over: CHAIN CREEK

2 MI E RED MDW LAKE, Flathead, MT

Built 1966 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 10

FOREST ROAD

Fair

Over: RED MEADOW CREEK

9 MI W OF NORTH FORK RD, Flathead, MT

Built 1966 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 20

RD 763

Fair

Over: FISHER RIV & RR OVERPASS

FISHER RIVER AT JENNINGS, Lincoln, MT

Built 1968 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 50

I 90

Fair

Over: INT TWO MILE-ST REGIS R

3.7M W ST. REGIS, Mineral, MT

Built 1981 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 3,180

VICTOR CROSSING W

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER 021

1M E VICTOR, Ravalli, MT

Built 2000 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 100

Canton Lane

Fair

Over: Eastside Canal

3 mi NE of Townsend MT, Broadwater, MT

Built 1974 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5

CROW CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

CROW CREEK 1, Broadwater, MT

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 50

CENTENNIAL AVE

Fair

Over: RR 015

W SIDE BUTTE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1955 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,189

N LOCATE RD

Fair

Over: LOCATE CREEK 045

3M N LOCATE, Custer, MT

Built 1901 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 23

STORY MILL RD

Fair

Over: BRIDGER CREEK 088

2M N BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1978 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

ROAD 100 S

Fair

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK 019

10M N BOX ELDER, Hill, MT

Built 1963 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 29

NELSON RD

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK 121

NELSON, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1975 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 233

LAKE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: FORTINE CREEK 141

7M S TREGO, Lincoln, MT

Built 1969 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 726

OLD CLYDE PARK RD

Fair

Over: FERRY CREEK 037

2M NE LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1938 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 673

POPLAR RIVER RD

Fair

Over: POPLAR RIVER 013

NE EDGE POPLAR, Roosevelt, MT

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 659

ROSEBUD CREEK RD

Fair

Over: ROSEBUD CREEK 047

10M SE COLSTRIP, Rosebud, MT

Built 1983 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 38

SAND CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK 031

9M NE ROSEBUD, Rosebud, MT

Built 1925 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: COVE DITCH 015

7M SE COLUMBUS, Stillwater, MT

Built 1928 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,607

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: ALLEN CREEK 016

7M W PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1928 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,607

S 1 FH 17

Fair

Over: WARM SPRINGS CREEK

7M W ANACONDA, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,043

SARPY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: INT SARPY CREEK I 94

2M SW SANDERS, Treasure, MT

Built 1967 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

S 467-UNION RD

Fair

Over: HELL CREEK

2M S CIRCLE, McCone, MT

Built 1962 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 126

TOLEDO MINE ROAD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

3M E SHERIDAN, Madison, MT

Built 2018 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 1

Fair

Over: LITTLE BADGER CREEK

24.1 KM SOUTH OF BROWNING, Glacier, MT

Built 1972 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,000

IRR BIA RTE 1

Fair

Over: BIRCH CREEK

13 KM SE OF HEART BUTTE, Pondera, MT

Built 1966 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 700

IRR BIA RTE 25

Fair

Over: BADGER CREEK

10 KM NORTH HEART BUTTE, Glacier, MT

Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 30

IRR RTE BIA 55

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK TRIBUTARY

AT BLACKFOOT, Glacier, MT

Built 2005 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 70

IRR BIA RTE 91

Fair

Over: ROTTEN GRASS CREEK

0.8 KM SW OF ST. XAVIER, Big Horn, MT

Built 1970 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 350

IRR BIA RTE 205

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIG HORN RIVER

0.4KM NW OF JCT 205 & 418, Big Horn, MT

Built 1993 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 80

IRR BIA ROUTE 8

Fair

Over: PEOPLES CREEK

40 KM SE FT. BELKNAP AGCY, Phillips, MT

Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 200

IRR BIA RTE 8

Fair

Over: PEOPLES CREEK

22.5 KM SW OF DODSON, Blaine, MT

Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 200

IRR BIA RTE 10

Fair

Over: OSWEGO EAST MAIN CANAL

1.6 KM SE OF OSWEGO, Valley, MT

Built 1972 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 50

IRR BIA ROUTE 1

Fair

Over: LITTLE PORCUPINE CREEK

3.5 KM SW OF FRAZIER, Valley, MT

Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,200

IRR BIA ROUTE 1

Fair

Over: MAIN CANAL

1.0 KM SW OF OSWEGO, Valley, MT

Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,200

IRR BIA RTE 4

Fair

Over: TONGUE RIVER

AT BIRNEY VILLAGE, Rosebud, MT

Built 1970 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 800

IRR BIA RTE 204

Fair

Over: ROSEBUD CREEK

4.8 KM NW OF LAME DEER, Rosebud, MT

Built 1971 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 60

IRR BIA RTE 133

Fair

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK

.2 S RTE 24 1.6 SE SANGRY, Hill, MT

Built 1984 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 60

ROAD 317

Fair

Over: ALKALI CREEK

SECT 1 T18N R29E, Petroleum, MT

Built 1963 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2

GOING-TO-THE-SUN R

Fair

Over: LOGAN CREEK

21.5 miles northeast of U, Flathead, MT

Built 1925 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,230

GOING-TO-THE-SUN R

Fair

Over: DRY RAVINE

31 miles northeast of U.S, Flathead, MT

Built 1934 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,942

GOING-TO-THE-SUN R

Fair

Over: HAYSTACK CREEK

28 Mi. N. of Jct. Hwy. 2, Flathead, MT

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,942

I 15

Fair

Over: BEAVERHD R-HIGH BRDG RD

1.2M N CLARK CANYON DAM, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1981 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,836

I 15

Fair

Over: SEP PARK STREET

DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1983 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,602

I 15

Fair

Over: SEP PARK STREET

DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1983 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,602

I 15

Fair

Over: INT BUXTON-BUXTON RD

5.6M S ROCKER, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,436

Showing 951-1,000 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.