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

WESTRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: INT BULLHEAD RD-I 15 008

9M SW SHELBY, Pondera, MT

Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

BECK HILL RD

Fair

Over: INT BECKHILL I 90 008

4M SE GARRISON, Powell, MT

Built 1978 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 48

COUNTY ROAD 018

Fair

Over: WEST CHARLIE CREEK 045

52M NW SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1994 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 130

Fair

Over: FIRST HAY CREEK 098

6M N SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 2009 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

OLD HWY 10

Fair

Over: SWEENEY CREEK 064

7M E ROSEBUD, Rosebud, MT

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 127

1ST RD SW

Fair

Over: SPRING VALLEY CANAL 046

15M NW FAIRFIELD, Teton, MT

Built 1986 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

SWAYZE RD

Fair

Over: INT SWAYZE ROAD I 15 002

4M SE SUNBURST, Toole, MT

Built 1971 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 13

NEW DEAL RD

Fair

Over: GALPIN COULEE 073

2M NW FT PECK, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

LOGAN ST SE

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK 019

SE EDGE HARLOWTON, Wheatland, MT

Built 1931 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

HESPER RD

Fair

Over: CANYON CREEK 114

7M NE LAUREL, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1972 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 519

21 MILE RD

Fair

Over: N FK CROOKED CREEK 079

20M N BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1965 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 68

CUSTER FRTG RD

Fair

Over: ROUGH COULEE 033

6M NE POMPEY`S PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 146

CUSTER FRTG RD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK 035

8M NE POMPEY`S PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 146

RAZOR CREEK RD

Fair

Over: RAZOR CREEK 164

3M N SHEPHERD, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1977 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

BUFFALO CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK 132

5M NW CUSTER, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2012 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

S 9TH ST W

Fair

Over: DODSON SOUTH CANAL 096

SW MALTA-9TH ST, Phillips, MT

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

US 2

Fair

Over: SWAMP CREEK

11M S LIBBY, Lincoln, MT

Built 2013 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,597

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: FLATIRON CREEK

BLACKFOOT, Glacier, MT

Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,054

US 2

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

1M E CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,254

US 310

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

ROCKVALE, Carbon, MT

Built 1934 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,030

US 93

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER

3M S HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 6,789

US 12

Fair

Over: MISSOURI RIVER

1M N TOWNSEND, Broadwater, MT

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 6,624

US 12

Fair

Over: DAISY DEAN CREEK

5M W TWO DOT, Wheatland, MT

Built 1933 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 499

US 12

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

3M E SUMATRA, Rosebud, MT

Built 1947 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 144

S 1

Fair

Over: FRED BURR CREEK

2M S PHILIPSBURG, Granite, MT

Built 1931 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,663

S 287

Fair

Over: RAMSHORN CREEK

2M N LAURIN, Madison, MT

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,862

S 41

Fair

Over: JEFFERSON RIVER

3M S SILVERSTAR, Madison, MT

Built 1992 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,899

S 41

Fair

Over: LITTLE PIPESTONE CREEK

9M E PIPESTONE PASS, Jefferson, MT

Built 1934 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 464

IRR - S 13

Fair

Over: W FORK POPLAR R OVRFLOW

17M S SCOBEY, Roosevelt, MT

Built 1932 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 179

S 43

Fair

Over: DIVIDE CREEK

DIVIDE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 673

S 41

Fair

Over: BEAVERHEAD RIVER

12M SW TWIN BRIDGES, Madison, MT

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,326

US 87

Fair

Over: JUDITH RIVER

1M N HOBSON, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1971 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,459

US 87

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

12M E LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,442

S 200

Fair

Over: MUSSELSHELL RIVER

MOSBY, Garfield, MT

Built 1973 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 532

S 200S-TOWNE ST

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

WEST GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1959 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,602

S 200S-TOWNE ST

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

WEST GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1959 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,602

US 89

Fair

Over: SHIELDS RIVER

1M N CLYDE PARK, Park, MT

Built 1981 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,247

IRR - S 66

Fair

Over: WHITE BEAR CREEK

9M S FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Blaine, MT

Built 1959 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 758

IRR - S 66

Fair

Over: THREE MILE COULEE

3M S FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Blaine, MT

Built 1959 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 758

S 80

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY FLAT CREEK

2M NW SQUARE BUTTE, Chouteau, MT

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 234

S 80

Fair

Over: ARROW CREEK

17M S GERALDINE, Fergus, MT

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 170

S 84-NORRIS RD

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

7M W BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1987 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 10,643

S 85-JACKRABBIT LN

Fair

Over: INT BELGRADE I 90

BELGRADE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1998 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

FRONTAGE RD-S 205

Fair

Over: BAKER CREEK

2M SE MANHATTAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1921 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,232

S 210

Fair

Over: INT CLINTON-I 90

CLINTON, Missoula, MT

Built 1972 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,152

TURNER RD

Fair

Over: WAYNE CREEK

9M NE HARLEM, Blaine, MT

Built 1947 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 61

IRR - S 251

Fair

Over: SMOKE CREEK

11M S FLAXVILLE, Daniels, MT

Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100

S 252-HORSE CR RD

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

1M W CIRCLE, McCone, MT

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 197

S 253

Fair

Over: BRACKETT CREEK

8M NW TERRY, Prairie, MT

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 402

W RESERVE HWY

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK OVERFLOW

1M E RESERVE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 150

Showing 1,051-1,100 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.