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 191

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

15M NE MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1998 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 211

LOWER RIVER RD

Fair

Over: SAND COULEE CREEK

3M S GREAT FALLS, Cascade, MT

Built 1937 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,587

S 243

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

1M N SACO, Phillips, MT

Built 1936 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 252

S 252-WELDON RD

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

13M NW CIRCLE, McCone, MT

Built 1950 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 57

S 253

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

17M NW TERRY, Prairie, MT

Built 1940 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 366

S 278

Fair

Over: GRASSHOPPER CREEK

21M W DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1957 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 656

S 323

Fair

Over: LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER

15M NE ALZADA, Carter, MT

Built 1983 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 215

S 324

Fair

Over: MEDICINE LODGE CREEK

7M E GRANT, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1963 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 282

S 366-LEDGER RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

4M W LEDGER, Pondera, MT

Built 1954 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 186

BELL CROSSING

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER

2M NE VICTOR, Ravalli, MT

Built 1974 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 2,762

GOULDING CREEK RD

Fair

Over: HARPER`S COULEE

11M SW ROUNDUP, Musselshell, MT

Built 1954 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 136

S FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: CANYON CREEK

W BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1959 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 4,386

W MAIN ST

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER

W HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1968 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 2,730

CENTRAL AVE W

Fair

Over: INT CENTRAL AVE W-I 15

GREAT FALLS-CENTRAL AVE W, Cascade, MT

Built 1967 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 14,124

SHAMROCK ROAD

Fair

Over: BOULDER RIVER

2 MI PAST WHITEHOUSE C. G, Jefferson, MT

Built 1980 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 40

ROAD 436

Fair

Over: CAMP CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1979 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 20

FS ROUTE NO. 871

Fair

Over: AMERICAN CREEK

AMERICAN CREEK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

RD 6748

Fair

Over: LAKE CR

SILVER DOLLAR, Lincoln, MT

Built 1962 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

ELK MEADOWS RD

Fair

Over: LOLO CR

ELK MEADOWS, Missoula, MT

Built 1960 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

W.SIDE 9-MILE RD

Fair

Over: NINEMILE CR.

W. SIDE NINEMILE, Missoula, MT

Built 1968 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

RD 352

Fair

Over: TWELVEMILE CREEK

HENDERSON-THOMPSON, Mineral, MT

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

RD 450

Fair

Over: TROUT CR

VERDE WINDFALL, Mineral, MT

Built 1967 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

RD 1181

Fair

Over: E FK BIG CREEK

MIDDLE FK BIG CR, Mineral, MT

Built 1954 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 50

I 15

Fair

Over: LITTLE PRICKLY PEAR CR

9M S WOLF CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1965 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,383

TELEGRAPH CR RD

Fair

Over: TELEGRAPH CREEK 061

4M S ELLISTON, Powell, MT

Built 1950 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 4

Fair

Over: WHITETAIL CREEK

11.3 KM NE OF HEART BUTTE, Glacier, MT

Built 1972 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 500

2864: BRAZIEL CR.

Fair

Over: NEVADA CREEK

0.2 mi S of MT141, Powell, MT

Built 1977 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 25

FOREST ROAD

Fair

Over: GRIFFIN CREEK

GREAT GRIFFIN ROAD, Flathead, MT

Built 1980 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 20

HEBGEN LAKE ROAD

Fair

Over: WATKINS CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Gallatin, MT

Built 2011 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 40

S.ROCK CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

S. OF LIVINGSTON, Gallatin, MT

Built 1987 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 50

RD 231

Fair

Over: RAMSEY CR

LIBBY CR., Lincoln, MT

Built 1965 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 50

RATTLESNAKE CR RD

Fair

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

RATTLESNAKE CR, Missoula, MT

Built 1981 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 50

MATTIE V

Fair

Over: NINEMILE CR

MATTIE V, Missoula, MT

Built 1979 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 50

FORTY MILE RD

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK 085

2M SE LODGE GRASS, Big Horn, MT

Built 2015 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 100

ARMINGTON RD

Fair

Over: BIG OTTER CREEK 029

3M SE BELT, Cascade, MT

Built 1954 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 100

NFSR

Fair

Over: MARION CREEK

MIDDLE FORK FLATHEAD, Flathead, MT

Built 2008 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 40

NFSR 233

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

BEAVER CREEK NO. 5, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1978 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 26

I 15

Fair

Over: STICKNEY CREEK

2M N CRAIG, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1968 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 2,224

COUNTY ROAD 350

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 025

2M N SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 2003 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 339

MARTEN CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MARTEN CREEK 026

7M S NOXON, Sanders, MT

Built 1968 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 170

WHITEBIRD CR RD

Fair

Over: WHITEBIRD CREEK 049

7M NE ABSAROKEE, Stillwater, MT

Built 1998 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 267

I 15

Fair

Over: SEP BOULDER AVE-RR

HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2016 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 11,699

DRY CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

NW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1970 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 245

I 15

Fair

Over: POINDEXTER SLOUGH

2.5M S DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1983 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,826

I 15

Fair

Over: POINDEXTER SLOUGH

2.5M S DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1983 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,826

I 15

Fair

Over: SEP GUNDERSON RD

2M S POWER, Cascade, MT

Built 1972 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,000

I 15

Fair

Over: SEP GUNDERSON RD

2M S POWER, Cascade, MT

Built 1972 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,000

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST. REGIS RIVER

5.6M E DE BORGIA, Mineral, MT

Built 1980 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,676

I 90

Fair

Over: ST. REGIS RIVER

4.3M W ST. REGIS, Mineral, MT

Built 1981 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,180

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: CLARK FORK RVR-LOCAL RD

6.2M E ST. REGIS, Mineral, MT

Built 1984 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,513

Showing 1,601-1,650 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.