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

KELLY CANYON RD

Fair

Over: BRIDGER CREEK 047

6M NE BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1983 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 100

ARMELLS ROAD

Fair

Over: ARMELLS CREEK

11M NE HILGER, Fergus, MT

Built 2022 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

BURMA RD

Fair

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 014

14M NW SHERIDAN, Madison, MT

Built 1987 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

CANYON CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BRACKETT CREEK 006

2M SW CLYDE PARK, Park, MT

Built 1975 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

MILK RIVER ROAD

Fair

Over: FRENCHMAN CREEK 126

12M NE SACO, Phillips, MT

Built 1950 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 22

BULLHEAD RD

Fair

Over: BIRCH CREEK 022

7M NW VALIER, Pondera, MT

Built 1950 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 119

Fair

Over: BR MAIN CANAL 038

5M NE FALLON, Prairie, MT

Built 1936 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

DUTCH HENRY RD

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK 073

11M N REDSTONE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1983 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

S 91

Fair

Over: INT EAST BIG TIMBER I 90

2M E BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1981 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 2,120

MYERS RD

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER

MYERS, Treasure, MT

Built 1968 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 95

4-H RD

Fair

Over: MUSSELSHELL RIVER 008

SE ROUNDUP, Musselshell, MT

Built 1970 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 528

CORINNE TRAIL

Fair

Over: HORSE PRAIRIE CREEK 043

3M E GRANT, Beaverhead, MT

Built 2022 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 111

Fair

Over: HORSE PRAIRIE CREEK 031

8M W GRANT, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1920 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

CEMETARY RD

Fair

Over: T AND Y CANAL 065

1M S MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1978 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 551

TEIGEN LOOP

Fair

Over: MCDONALD CREEK 032

S TEIGEN, Petroleum, MT

Built 2012 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

DRY FORK RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME DITCH 052

4M E WILLIAMS, Pondera, MT

Built 1950 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 54

STOLTZ RD

Fair

Over: BIRCH CREEK 001

12M W VALIER, Pondera, MT

Built 1976 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

E LAKE RD

Fair

Over: PONDERA COULEE 029

15M W CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 122

PUMPHOUSE RD

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION DITCH 006

1M NW HYSHAM, Treasure, MT

Built 1955 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 168

WILSON RD

Fair

Over: SARPY CREEK 012

22M S HYSHAM, Treasure, MT

Built 1970 Load: 9.1 t

RIVER RD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK 023

3M SE LAUREL, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1969 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

MAPLE STREET

Fair

Over: WARM SPRINGS CREEK 011

ANACONDA-MAPLE ST, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1960 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

2ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK 060

LEWISTOWN-2ND AVE, Fergus, MT

Built 1930 Load: 9.9 t ADT: 100

POOR FARM LOOP

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

1M NW Lewistown, Fergus, MT

Built 1908 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

DURNAM ROAD

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

DURNAM BRIDGE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1970 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 99

YANTIC RD

Fair

Over: RED ROCK COULEE 004

3M NE LOHMAN, Blaine, MT

Built 1933 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY ROAD 323

Fair

Over: SNAKE CREEK 048

9M S ZURICH, Blaine, MT

Built 1911 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

COTTONWOOD CR RD

Fair

Over: N COTTONWOOD CREEK 037

17M NW ALZADA, Carter, MT

Built 1938 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

HOPP RD

Fair

Over: EAGLE CREEK 049

20M SE BIG SANDY, Chouteau, MT

Built 1971 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

72 BENCH RD

Fair

Over: WARM SPRINGS CREEK 078

5M N DANVERS, Fergus, MT

Built 1980 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

FOREST GROVE RD

Fair

Over: S FORK MCDONALD CR 070

4M SW GRASSRANGE, Fergus, MT

Built 1982 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 146

SINGLE PINE RD

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 028

7M SW LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 1989 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

LOWER COTTONWOOD R

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 028

5M NE CLYDE PARK, Park, MT

Built 1968 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

E LAKE RD

Fair

Over: LAKE FRANCIS CANAL 075

3M SE VALIER, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 122

KINGSTON MINE RD

Fair

Over: C CANAL 025

1M W VALIER, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

CAMP CREEK RD

Fair

Over: PUMPKIN CREEK 021

24M NW BROADUS, Powder River, MT

Built 1915 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

HINSDALE N RD

Fair

Over: BLUFF CREEK 044

27M W OPHEIM, Valley, MT

Built 1973 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 14

BENGOCHEA RD

Fair

Over: E FK PORCUPINE CREEK 112

20M N NASHUA, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

BILLINGSLEY RD

Fair

Over: VANDALIA SOUTH CANAL 074

6M W GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1997 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

SYCAMORE STREET

Fair

Over: WARM SPRINGS CREEK 009

ANACONDA-SYCAMORE ST, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 448

S HOWIE ST

Fair

Over: REEDERS ALLEY 001

HELENA-REEDERS ALLEY, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1881 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

STORM CASTLE ROAD

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

STORM CASTLE CREEK, Gallatin, MT

Built 1935 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 99

TOBACCO SIDING RD

Fair

Over: TOBACCO RIVER 146

6M SE EUREKA, Lincoln, MT

Built 1950 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 100

STONE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: EAST BENCH CANAL 003

6M NE DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

HALL RD

Fair

Over: RED ROCK COULEE 080

6M NW CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1970 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 42

HALL RD

Fair

Over: FT. BELKNAP CANAL 08

6M NW CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1970 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 42

HAMILTON RD

Fair

Over: E GALLATIN RIVER 076

5M E CENTRAL PARK, Gallatin, MT

Built 1928 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

LOWER VALLEY RD -

Fair

Over: BOULDER RIVER 030

13M SE BOULDER, Jefferson, MT

Built 1977 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

TRUNK BUTTE RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME COULEE 078

7M N WILLIAMS, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

OLD SHELBY RD

Fair

Over: PONDERA CANAL 012

5M NW LEDGER, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 60

Showing 101-150 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.