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

GRANTSDALE RD

Fair

Over: SKALKAHO CREEK 102

N GRANTSDALE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 471

HOBLITT LN

Fair

Over: SWEENEY CREEK 055

1M S FLORENCE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

GOLF COURSE RD

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT CANAL 045

3M SE HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

TAMMANY LN

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT CANAL 046

4M SE HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

FOLEY LN

Fair

Over: SKALKAHO CREEK 041

1M E GRANTSDALE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

GOLF COURSE RD

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT CANAL 044

2M SE GRANTSDALE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

OLD DARBY RD

Fair

Over: SLEEPING CHILD CREEK 075

6M S HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 238

S SHOSHONE LOOP

Fair

Over: SKALKAHO CREEK 043

3M SE GRANTSDALE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

LIL SLEEPING CHILD

Fair

Over: SLEEPING CHILD CREEK 038

7M SE HAMILTON, Ravalli, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

CONNER CUTOFF RD

Fair

Over: W FORK BITTERROOT R 049

1M W CONNER, Ravalli, MT

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 001

Fair

Over: CHARLIE CREEK 043

42M NW SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 002

Fair

Over: EAST REDWATER CREEK 084

16M N RICHEY, Richland, MT

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 34

COUNTY ROAD 002

Fair

Over: N FK LISK CREEK 034

7M N RICHEY, Richland, MT

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 34

COUNTY ROAD 021

Fair

Over: HARDSCRABBLE CREEK 075

37M NW SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 203

Fair

Over: NORTH FK FOURMILE CR 061

9M NW FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 208

Fair

Over: N FK FIRST HAY CREEK 068

8M W FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 132

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 064

2M SW FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 213

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK 062

9M NW FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 217

Fair

Over: SECOND HAY CREEK 023

7M W FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 221

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK 060

6M NW FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 131

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 072

4M SW FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 334

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 078

7M SW SAVAGE, Richland, MT

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 349

Fair

Over: SHADWELL CREEK 019

24M SE SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 403

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 008

W CRANE, Richland, MT

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 410

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 010

5M NE CRANE, Richland, MT

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 113

COUNTY ROAD 411

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 011

2M N CRANE, Richland, MT

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

BIG PORCUPINE RD

Fair

Over: BIG PORCUPINE CR 010

5M NE VANANDA, Rosebud, MT

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: BUTTE CREEK 041

E ROSEBUD, Rosebud, MT

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 127

POWER RD

Fair

Over: RR 076

N EDGE COLSTRIP, Rosebud, MT

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 942

UPPER RIVER RD

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK 048

2M SE HERON, Sanders, MT

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

BIG BEAVER CREEK R

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAVER CREEK 018

11M NW THOMPSON FALLS, Sanders, MT

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

BIG BEAVER CREEK R

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK 019

12M NW THOMPSON FALLS, Sanders, MT

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

LIL THOMPSON R RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE THOMPSON RIV 091

19M N PLAINS, Sanders, MT

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

CHERRY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: PROSPECT CREEK 005

1M SW THOMPSON FALLS, Sanders, MT

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

HEWOLF DR

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK 015

7M SE DIXON, Sanders, MT

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

DALEVIEW RD

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK 020

5M N REDSTONE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8

SOO LINE RD

Fair

Over: PLENTYWOOD CREEK 003

1M E OUTLOOK, Sheridan, MT

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

SOO LINE RD

Fair

Over: HARRY`S CREEK 071

3M W RAYMOND, Sheridan, MT

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

HENDRICKSON HILL R

Fair

Over: MCCOY CREEK 001

4M NW PLENTYWOOD, Sheridan, MT

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

NINE MILE RD

Fair

Over: HARRY`S CREEK 011

6M NW RAYMOND, Sheridan, MT

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

DALEVIEW RD

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK 019

DALEVIEW, Sheridan, MT

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

DALEVIEW HILLS RD

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK 005

1M N DALEVIEW, Sheridan, MT

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

DUTCH HENRY RD

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK 006

9M N REDSTONE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

COMERTOWN RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 053

10M W WESTBY, Sheridan, MT

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19

MARRON CREEK RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 051

13M E PLENTYWOOD, Sheridan, MT

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

S DAGMAR RD

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 059

16M E MEDICINE LAKE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

S DAGMAR RD

Fair

Over: LAKE CREEK 058

15M E MEDICINE LAKE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

ROSE HILL RD

Fair

Over: NEISER CREEK 012

3M SE RESERVE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

LONGFELLOW RD

Fair

Over: LAKE CREEK 074

16M E ANTELOPE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

CHERRY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 052

10M SW WESTBY, Sheridan, MT

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

Showing 2,251-2,300 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.