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

BAYLOR RD

Fair

Over: MID FK PORCUPINE CR 013

15M S OPHEIM, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

N BENCH RD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK POPLAR R 026

9M NE OPHEIM, Valley, MT

Built 1975 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

OSWALD RD

Fair

Over: RR 009

8M E BROADVIEW, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2009 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

RESERVE ST

Fair

Over: W BROADWAY ST-RR

MISSOULA-RESERVE ST, Missoula, MT

Built 1998 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 28,964

S 324

Fair

Over: INT HORSE PRAIRIE I 15

1M E CLARK CANYON DAM, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 389

HOWIE RD

Fair

Over: BIG TIMBER CREEK

1M NE BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 2004 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 481

FDR #1205

Fair

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

GRANITE MOUNTAIN, Madison, MT

Built 1985 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 50

FDR 839

Fair

Over: LOGGING CREEK

14 MI. WEST OF JCT US89, Cascade, MT

Built 1956 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 46

LONGMEADOW DR

Fair

Over: COVE DITCH 016

LAKESIDE ESTATES, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1991 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 14

Fair

Over: BIG SHOULDER CREEK

7.2KM SOUTH OF CROW AGNCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 1963 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 440

YENNE POINT RD

Fair

Over: DRAIN TO WOODS BAY 103

WOODS BAY, Lake, MT

Built 2008 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: NEZPERCE FK BTT

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1954 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 10

FOREST LK. RD. 66

Fair

Over: W FK COTTONWOOD CREEK

4.5 MI SW CNTY-COTNWD JCT, Meagher, MT

Built 1969 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 50

FDR 1122

Fair

Over: BELT CREEK

0.1 MI W OF BELT CR. R.S., Cascade, MT

Built 1972 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 50

FDR #204

Fair

Over: MOOSE CREEK

2.3 MI.NE OF JCT 119/204, Meagher, MT

Built 1956 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 50

FDR 839

Fair

Over: LOGGING CREEK

13.5 MI. W. US89/839 JCT, Cascade, MT

Built 1956 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 46

W K GOLD CR RD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK GOLD CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Missoula, MT

Built 1997 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 50

S 205-FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: MADISON RIVER

1M E THREE FORKS, Gallatin, MT

Built 1948 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 1,473

ARNTZEN LN

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK

2M SE CHRISTINA, Fergus, MT

Built 2020 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

CARRIGAN LN

Fair

Over: EAST BENCH CANAL 061

4M E BARRETTS INT, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

BOYD COONEY DAM RD

Fair

Over: RED LODGE CREEK 013

COONEY RESERVOIR DAM, Carbon, MT

Built 1991 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 564

7TH LN

Fair

Over: GREENFIELD S CANAL 065

7M E FAIRFIELD, Cascade, MT

Built 1950 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

BISHOP CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SHONKIN CREEK 016

8M S SHONKIN, Chouteau, MT

Built 1930 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

PACER COULEE RD

Fair

Over: DRY WOLF CREEK 093

4M SE DENTON, Fergus, MT

Built 1990 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

GIEFER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: GEIFER CREEK 095

18M W EAST GLACIER, Flathead, MT

Built 1976 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

TRUMAN CR RD

Fair

Over: TRUMAN CREEK 172

14M W KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2008 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

HART LN

Fair

Over: HELENA VALLEY CANAL 088

4M NE EAST HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1957 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 126

GLACIER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: GLACIER CREEK 061

0.5M W CONDON, Missoula, MT

Built 1970 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

CASTLE MOUNTAIN RD

Fair

Over: BRACKETT CREEK 032

2M S CLYDE PARK, Park, MT

Built 1970 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

HAMILTON ROAD

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK

15M NE WILSALL, Park, MT

Built 2012 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

SHERMAN RD

Fair

Over: TETON RIVER 060

1M W CHOTEAU, Teton, MT

Built 1938 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

RIVERSIDE DR

Fair

Over: RICHARDSON COULEE 090

3M NW GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1986 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 100

CONRAD RD

Fair

Over: STILLWATER RIVER

1M E KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 1980 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 6,337

CO RD 002 FH 73

Fair

Over: WISE RIVER 017

22M S WISE RIVER, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1987 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 289

COTTONWOOD CRK. RD

Fair

Over: TRESPASS CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Park, MT

Built 1970 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 50

6035 SOLO JOE RD.

Fair

Over: E F YAAK

0.1 MILE FROM JCT WITH 92, Lincoln, MT

Built 1958 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 40

2-LANE ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK ROCK CREEK

8 MILES WEST OF RED LODGE, Carbon, MT

Built 1965 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 50

FDR 204

Fair

Over: MOOSE CREEK

3.5 MI NE OF 119/204 JCT, Meagher, MT

Built 1956 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 50

I 15

Fair

Over: INT SPRING CREEK-RR

7M S WOLF CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1964 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 2,522

IRR - I 90

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

2.5M S LODGE GRASS, Big Horn, MT

Built 1985 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 1,978

PINE RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: TWO LEGGIN`S CANAL 014

4M NW HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1993 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

SHAW CUTOFF RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE MUDDY CREEK 126

12M NW CASCADE, Cascade, MT

Built 1933 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

LAS VEGAS LOOP

Fair

Over: RR 059

3M W FORT BENTON, Chouteau, MT

Built 1938 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

TYLER CUTOFF

Fair

Over: MCDONALD CREEK 125

1M S GRASSRANGE, Fergus, MT

Built 1975 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

BIGGS HAUGLAND RD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK 079

2M S MENARD, Gallatin, MT

Built 1985 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

STAGECOACH TRL RD

Fair

Over: BAKER CREEK OVERFLOW 081

5M NW BELGRADE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1965 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

S SHAWMUT RD

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK 002

12M W SHAWMUT, Golden Valley, MT

Built 1964 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

LOZEAU CROSSOVR RD

Fair

Over: CLARK FORK 045

LOZEAU, Mineral, MT

Built 1944 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 217

SHIELDS RIVER RD

Fair

Over: SHIELDS RIVER 010

4M NE WILSALL, Park, MT

Built 1955 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

MELVILLE RD

Fair

Over: SWEET GRASS CREEK 01

W MELVILLE, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1957 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

Showing 201-250 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.