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: LOCAL-RR

6.2M W ALBERTON, Mineral, MT

Built 1981 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 4,036

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP HOULE CREEK ROAD

3.1M W FRENCHTOWN, Missoula, MT

Built 1971 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,428

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP HOULE CREEK ROAD

3.1M W FRENCHTOWN, Missoula, MT

Built 1971 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,428

I 90

Fair

Over: INT E MISSOULA

EAST MISSOULA, Missoula, MT

Built 1964 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 9,994

I 90

Fair

Over: INT PHOSPHATE

3.7M W GARRISON, Powell, MT

Built 1973 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,070

I 90

Fair

Over: INT HOPPER

8.7M W LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 4,841

I 90

Fair

Over: INT HOPPER

8.7M W LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 8,130

I 90

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER

LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1962 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 6,211

I 90

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER

LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1962 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 6,211

I 90

Fair

Over: INT SPRINGTIME

8M W COLUMBUS, Stillwater, MT

Built 1971 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,961

I 90

Fair

Over: CANYON CREEK

3.1M W BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1959 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 14,099

I 90

Fair

Over: CANYON CREEK

3.1M W BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1959 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 14,099

I 90

Fair

Over: INT JOHNSON LANE

2.5M E BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 12,932

I 90

Fair

Over: INT JOHNSON LANE

2.5M E BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 9,787

I 94

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

W GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1969 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,275

I 94

Fair

Over: INT GRIFFITH CREEK

9M E GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1979 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,160

OLD STAGE RD

Fair

Over: BEAVERHEAD RIVER 047

E BARRETTS INT, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1995 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 292

IRR - FRONTAGE 315

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER 002

2M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1976 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

YANTIC RD

Fair

Over: RED ROCK COULEE 002

4M NE LOHMAN, Blaine, MT

Built 1933 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 40

ASHUELOT HILL RD

Fair

Over: BENCH SOUTH CANAL 066

9M E FAIRFIELD, Cascade, MT

Built 1950 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 26

MT 21

Fair

Over: FORT SHAW CANAL 110

3M W SIMMS, Cascade, MT

Built 1934 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 418

MT 21

Fair

Over: SIMMS CREEK 112

2M W SIMMS, Cascade, MT

Built 1934 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 418

FRONTAGE ROAD 005

Fair

Over: INT RADAR BASE-I 94 004

8M SW MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1961 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

CRACKERVILLE RD

Fair

Over: RR 001

4M S OPPORTUNITY, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1946 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 515

SALT CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SALT CREEK 053

7M NW SUFFOLK, Fergus, MT

Built 1984 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

TRUMAN CR RD

Fair

Over: TRUMAN CREEK 173

17M W KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2008 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

BEAVERHEAD DR

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK 071

3M S RONAN, Lake, MT

Built 2003 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

S 21

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK 119

1M NE AUGUSTA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1935 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 258

W KOOTENAI RD

Fair

Over: YOUNG CREEK 139

10M NW REXFORD, Lincoln, MT

Built 1974 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

JACK CREEK RD

Fair

Over: JACK CREEK 027

10M E ENNIS, Madison, MT

Built 1952 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 175

E RIVER RD

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER 043

3M NE PRAY, Park, MT

Built 1960 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 242

SKALKAHO HWY

Fair

Over: CANAL 058

3M SE GRANTSDALE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1941 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 325

COUNTY ROAD 309

Fair

Over: LONE TREE CREEK 033

1M SE SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1993 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 321

625

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK 096

23M S SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1994 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

INGOMAR RD

Fair

Over: W FK FROZE TO DEATH 006

5M S INGOMAR, Rosebud, MT

Built 1979 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

FRONTAGE ROAD 148

Fair

Over: SEP I 94 009

5M W ROSEBUD, Rosebud, MT

Built 1970 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

GRAVEYARD CR RD

Fair

Over: INT HATHWAY I 94 012

HATHAWAY, Rosebud, MT

Built 1977 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

CARTERSVILLE RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE PORCUPINE CR 027

8M NE FORSYTH, Rosebud, MT

Built 1970 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

BIRDLAND BAY RD

Fair

Over: CLARK FORK RIVER 001

2M W THOMPSON FALLS, Sanders, MT

Built 1928 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

TRAPPER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 008

W MELROSE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 2001 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 187

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: BERRY CREEK 024

8M E REED POINT, Stillwater, MT

Built 1931 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

N YELLOWSTONE TRL

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER 010

6M SW BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 2000 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 128

FOSTER RD

Fair

Over: TETON RIVER 068

1M NW CHOTEAU, Teton, MT

Built 1976 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

OLD HWY 10

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 015

6M E HYSHAM, Treasure, MT

Built 1933 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 218

HINSDALE N RD

Fair

Over: SNAKE CREEK 042

27M N HINSDALE, Valley, MT

Built 1950 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

LIBERTY RD

Fair

Over: VANDALIA SOUTH CANAL 097

10M NW GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 2013 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 61

ROBINDALE DR

Fair

Over: BLUE CREEK 123

4M SE BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2013 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

US 2

Fair

Over: ASHLEY CREEK

5M SW KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2015 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 7,046

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: FLATHEAD RIVER

COLUMBIA FALLS, Flathead, MT

Built 1977 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 21,763

US 2

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

CHESTER, Liberty, MT

Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,244

Showing 1,651-1,700 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.