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

I 90

Fair

Over: INT MISSION CREEK

9.9M E LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1987 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 5,692

I 90

Fair

Over: CNTY RD 113-FRYER CREEK

4.3M E SPRINGDALE, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1983 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 6,078

I 90

Fair

Over: BIG DITCH

5.6M W PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1970 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 5,470

I 90

Fair

Over: BIG DITCH

5.6M W PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1970 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 5,470

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP POPE ROAD

1.9M E PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1967 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 8,709

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP POPE ROAD

1.9M E PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1967 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 8,709

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP WOLD ROAD

1.9M W LAUREL, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1967 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 8,709

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP WOLD ROAD

1.9M W LAUREL, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1967 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 8,709

I 90

Fair

Over: INT W BILLINGS-U 1020

BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1964 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 9,980

I 90

Fair

Over: RR

14.9M W HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1972 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 3,688

I 90

Fair

Over: RR

14.9M W HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1972 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 3,688

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER

2.5M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1976 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,439

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: INT LODGE GRASS

LODGE GRASS, Big Horn, MT

Built 1980 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 1,978

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: SEP LOCAL ROAD

3.7M S LODGE GRASS, Big Horn, MT

Built 1985 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 1,978

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: SEP LOCAL ROAD

3.7M S LODGE GRASS, Big Horn, MT

Built 1985 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 1,978

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: INT WYOLA-S 457

WYOLA, Big Horn, MT

Built 1985 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 1,977

I 94

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK-SEP CO RD

2M W FORSYTH, Rosebud, MT

Built 1972 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,138

I 94

Fair

Over: INT CIRCLE-RR-7M CR

W GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1969 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,614

STODDARD DR

Fair

Over: EAST BENCH CANAL 002

8M NE DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

WARMAN LOOP

Fair

Over: BIGHORN CANAL 018

3M NE FORT SMITH, Big Horn, MT

Built 1930 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

NEW HOPE RD

Fair

Over: SNAKE CREEK 042

9M W HARLEM, Blaine, MT

Built 1933 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

LITTLE MISSOURI RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE MISSOURI RIV 009

15M SW CAPITOL, Carter, MT

Built 1989 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 42

PLEASANT VIEW RD

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK 026

17M W GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1976 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 50

FRONTAGE ROAD 146

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK 033

4M S WARM SPRINGS, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1931 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

NORTH FORK RD

Fair

Over: WHALE CREEK 048

8M NW POLEBRIDGE, Flathead, MT

Built 1976 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 59

AMSTERDAM RD

Fair

Over: CAMP CREEK 060

AMSTERDAM, Gallatin, MT

Built 1956 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

BASIN CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BASIN CREEK 032

BASIN, Jefferson, MT

Built 1960 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

I 15 FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: BOULDER RIVER 046

2M W BASIN, Jefferson, MT

Built 1985 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

MILLIGAN CANYON RD

Fair

Over: INT MILLIGAN-I 90 004

11M W CARDWELL, Jefferson, MT

Built 1969 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

BEAVER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: KEEP COOL CREEK 094

1M W LINCOLN, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1957 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

WELDON RD

Fair

Over: SHADE CREEK 019

23M W VIDA, McCone, MT

Built 1970 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

MELROSE RD

Fair

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 036

2M W TWIN BRIDGES, Madison, MT

Built 1978 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 154

FRENCHMAN RD

Fair

Over: FRENCHMAN RSV SPWY 124

21M N SACO, Phillips, MT

Built 1951 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

STAGE RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE WARM CREEK 028

30M S DODSON, Phillips, MT

Built 1981 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

US HWY 91 N

Fair

Over: DRY FORK MARIAS 080

2M N CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1931 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 649

US HWY 91 N

Fair

Over: PONDERA CANAL 081

8M N CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1931 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 649

OLD DARBY RD

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER 074

5M N DARBY, Ravalli, MT

Built 1917 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 284

COUNTY ROAD 022

Fair

Over: HARDSCRABBLE CREEK 076

39M NW SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 2009 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

1ST ST NW

Fair

Over: COVE DITCH 005

0.5M NW PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1935 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

WORK CREEK RD

Fair

Over: WORK CREEK 050

9M SE GREYCLIFF, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1993 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: BRIDGER CREEK 040

6M SE GREYCLIFF, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1931 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 342

N DEVON RD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK WILLOW CR 005

DEVON-N DEVON RD, Toole, MT

Built 1980 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 29

AITKEN RD

Fair

Over: MILK RIVER 081

SW GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1997 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

S 28TH RD

Fair

Over: SEP I 94 005

3M SW POMPEY`S PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1968 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 117

WOODBRIDGE DRIVE

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 002

HELENA-WOODBRIDGE DRIVE, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1975 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 100

US 2

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1942 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,818

US 12

Fair

Over: SANDSTONE CREEK

2M W PLEVNA, Fallon, MT

Built 1971 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 495

US 89

Fair

Over: MILL COULEE CANAL

5M N FORT SHAW, Cascade, MT

Built 1940 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 1,747

S 200

Fair

Over: RR

3M NW NOXON, Sanders, MT

Built 1957 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 1,508

S 200

Fair

Over: CLARK FORK RIVER

1M NW TROUT CREEK, Sanders, MT

Built 1958 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 2,030

Showing 1,151-1,200 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.