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

YELLOWSTONE TRAIL

Fair

Over: WHITETAIL CREEK 024

WHITEHALL-YELLOWSTONE TRL, Jefferson, MT

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

W 6TH ST

Fair

Over: FLOWER CREEK 004

W EDGE LIBBY, Lincoln, MT

Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,723

EXPRESSWAY RD

Fair

Over: GRANT CREEK 003

MISSOULA-EXPRESSWAY RD, Missoula, MT

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,797

INTERNATIONAL DR

Fair

Over: GRANT CREEK 005

MISSOULA-INTERNATIONAL DR, Missoula, MT

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

WHISKEY RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 044

NW EDGE MEDICINE LAKE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 71

SHAMROCK DR

Fair

Over: BBWA CANAL 039

BILLINGS-SHAMROCK DR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

ARLINGTON AVE SW

Fair

Over: CITY COUNTY DRAIN 049

BILLINGS-ARLINGTON AVE, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

MCDOUGALL DR

Fair

Over: CITY COUNTY DRAIN 200

BILLINGS-MCDOUGALL DR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

VALLEY DR

Fair

Over: HIGH DITCH 112

NW LAUREL-VALLEY DR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 931

US 2

Fair

Over: LAKE CREEK

1M SE TROY, Lincoln, MT

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,987

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: MOCCASIN CREEK

6M E WEST GLACIER, Flathead, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,372

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: PEOPLES CREEK

6M W DODSON, Phillips, MT

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,281

US 2

Fair

Over: MILK RIVER OVERFLOW

2M E HINSDALE, Valley, MT

Built 1966 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,313

US 2

Fair

Over: SHOTGUN CREEK

NE OF BAINVILLE, Roosevelt, MT

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,676

US 94

Fair

Over: INT W MILES CITY-I 94

3M SW MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1961 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,372

IRR - US 89

Fair

Over: TWO MEDICINE CANAL

10M SE BROWNING, Glacier, MT

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,380

US 12

Fair

Over: NINE MILE CREEK

7M W LAVINA, Golden Valley, MT

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,905

US 12

Fair

Over: INT WEST FORSYTH I 94

SW EDGE FORSYTH, Rosebud, MT

Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,242

S 1

Fair

Over: ABANDONED RAILROAD

DRUMMOND, Granite, MT

Built 1966 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,329

S 7-MAIN ST N

Fair

Over: SANDSTONE CREEK

NORTH EDGE BAKER, Fallon, MT

Built 1941 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,196

US 212

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

1M W JOLIET, Carbon, MT

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,282

S 37 FH 57

Fair

Over: FIVE MILE CREEK

12M N LIBBY DAM, Lincoln, MT

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 449

S 37 FH 57

Fair

Over: TEN MILE CREEK

18M N LIBBY DAM, Lincoln, MT

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 324

IRR - US 212

Fair

Over: INT CUSTER BATLFLD I 90

1M S CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1959 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,143

S 43 FH 20

Fair

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER

WISDOM, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 590

US 287

Fair

Over: MADISON RIVER

3M N WEST YELLOWSTONE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,903

US 191 FH 42

Fair

Over: GRAYLING CREEK

14M N WEST YELLOWSTONE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,481

US 191 FH 42

Fair

Over: GRAYLING CREEK

15M N WEST YELLOWSTONE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,481

US 191 FH 42

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

14M S GALLATIN GATEWAY, Gallatin, MT

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,666

S 3

Fair

Over: MUSSELSHELL RIVER

LAVINA, Golden Valley, MT

Built 1959 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,052

S 200

Fair

Over: SAGEHEN CREEK

3M E MOSBY, Garfield, MT

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 532

S 200

Fair

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

13M E JORDAN, Garfield, MT

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 469

US 89

Fair

Over: FLATHEAD CREEK

1M N WILSALL, Park, MT

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,119

US 89 FH 32

Fair

Over: BELT CREEK

1M SE NEIHART, Cascade, MT

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 385

S 213

Fair

Over: S FORK MILK RIVER

30M NW SANTA RITA, Glacier, MT

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 128

S 238-E FORK RD

Fair

Over: E FORK BIG SPRING CREEK

8M SE LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 216

CLEVELAND RD

Fair

Over: RED ROCK CREEK

CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 849

CLEVELAND RD

Fair

Over: SNAKE CREEK

9M NW CLEVELAND, Blaine, MT

Built 1957 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 159

CLEVELAND RD

Fair

Over: PEOPLES CREEK

CLEVELAND, Blaine, MT

Built 1957 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 109

STEVI CUTOFF RD

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER

1M NW STEVENSVILLE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1951 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,991

S 271

Fair

Over: NEVADA CREEK

1M NE HELMVILLE, Powell, MT

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 302

HAMMOND RD

Fair

Over: CORRAL CREEK

29M NE HAMMOND, Carter, MT

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 32

TRIDENT RD

Fair

Over: GALLATIN RIVER

1M SW TRIDENT, Gallatin, MT

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 487

DRY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: EAST GALLATIN RIVER

3M N BELGRADE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1957 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,093

S 294

Fair

Over: SAWMILL CREEK

15M SW MARTINSDALE, Meagher, MT

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 171

S 294

Fair

Over: S FORK MUSSELSHELL RIVER

MARTINSDALE, Meagher, MT

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 276

S 332

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

11M N ASHLAND, Rosebud, MT

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 29

S 408

Fair

Over: USRS MAIN CANAL

4M SW FAIRFIELD, Teton, MT

Built 1953 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 349

PRIMROSE LN

Fair

Over: JEFFERSON RIVER OVERFLOW

2M E SILVERSTAR, Madison, MT

Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 108

FAIRMONT RD

Fair

Over: SILVER BOW CREEK

10M NW ROCKER, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 548

Showing 2,351-2,400 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.