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 94

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

N WIBAUX, Wibaux, MT

Built 1962 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,609

ANDERSON RD

Fair

Over: INT GORDON-I 15

6M NW VAUGHN, Cascade, MT

Built 1972 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 37

S 43

Fair

Over: DEEP CREEK

10M NW WISE RIVER, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 2006 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 454

US 87

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

4M SE BELT, Cascade, MT

Built 1959 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,078

US 87

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

6M SE BELT, Cascade, MT

Built 1959 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,078

GRAND AVE

Fair

Over: BBWA CANAL

BILLINGS-GRAND AVE, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1981 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 14,360

RAT LAKE ROAD

Fair

Over: STORMCASTLE CREEK

JUST PAST STORM CASTLE CG, Gallatin, MT

Built 1954 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 50

EAST FK LOLO CR

Fair

Over: LOLO CREEK

EAST FK LOLO, Missoula, MT

Built 1946 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 50

BUTTELMAN RD

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK 061

4M S WILLOW CREEK, Gallatin, MT

Built 1923 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 100

S 467

Fair

Over: UPPER SEVEN MILE CREEK

2M W LINDSAY, Dawson, MT

Built 1986 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 48

TRAIL CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MIZPAH CREEK 086

27M SE MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1981 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 56

COUNTY ROAD 303

Fair

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK 082

17M NE GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 2001 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 100

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: GOAT UNDERPASS

1M SE ESSEX, Flathead, MT

Built 1981 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,929

US 2

Fair

Over: PORCUPINE CREEK

NASHUA, Valley, MT

Built 2006 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,504

S 24

Fair

Over: ROANWOOD CREEK

5M N OPHEIM, Valley, MT

Built 1957 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 31

US 87

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

7M SE BELT, Cascade, MT

Built 1959 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,078

N FORK RD

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

17M SE POLEBRIDGE, Flathead, MT

Built 1980 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 431

MULLOWNEY LN

Fair

Over: LAUREL ROAD

BILLINGS-MULLOWNEY LN, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2007 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 20,106

I 15

Fair

Over: BIG SHEEP CREEK

0.6M S DELL, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1971 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,803

I 15

Fair

Over: BIG SHEEP CREEK

0.6M S DELL, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1971 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,803

I 90

Fair

Over: INT TRAIL CREEK

7.4M E BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1962 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 4,841

COUNTY ROAD 330

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 058

5M N SAVAGE, Richland, MT

Built 1980 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 21

S 24

Fair

Over: MILK RIVER

3M SE GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1992 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 907

I 15

Fair

Over: INT HARRISON AVE

BUTTE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1960 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 6,805

FRONTAGE ROAD 280

Fair

Over: BIG SHEEP CREEK 027

SE OF DELL, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1969 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 100

JUDY LN

Fair

Over: RUBY RIVER 026

W OF ALDER, Madison, MT

Built 1984 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 100

RED LODGE CR RD

Fair

Over: RED LODGE CREEK 012

11M SW BOYD, Carbon, MT

Built 2005 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: N BRANCH MARTEN CREEK

MARTEN CREEK, Sanders, MT

Built 1967 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 20

I 15

Fair

Over: INT HARRISON AVE

BUTTE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1960 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 6,805

I 90

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK ROAD

1.9M W BONNER, Missoula, MT

Built 1964 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 9,994

I 94

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

N WIBAUX, Wibaux, MT

Built 1974 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,792

COUNTY ROAD 103

Fair

Over: TONGUE RIVER 054

3M NE DECKER, Big Horn, MT

Built 1976 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 331

US 93

Fair

Over: CHURCH DRIVE

5M N KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2008 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 12,693

LINE CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: STORMCASTLE CREEK

OFF SQ___ CREEK ROAD, Gallatin, MT

Built 1948 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 50

I 90

Fair

Over: INT TRAIL CREEK

7.4M E BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1962 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 9,533

N KENDRICK AVENUE

Fair

Over: GRAVEYARD COULEE 093

GLENDIVE-N KENDRICK AVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1965 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,524

MEADE AVENUE

Fair

Over: GRAVEYARD COULEE 094

GLENDIVE-MEADE AVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1965 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 851

US 12

Fair

Over: SANDSTONE CREEK

EAST EDGE PLEVNA, Fallon, MT

Built 1998 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 749

US 87

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

5M SE BELT, Cascade, MT

Built 1959 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,078

I 90 FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: BIGHORN RIVER

1M E HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 2007 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,537

FDR 235

Fair

Over: BENCHMARK CR.

BENCHMARK CR., Judith Basin, MT

Built 1993 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 40

GEER RD

Fair

Over: E FK PORCUPINE CREEK 002

20M N NASHUA, Valley, MT

Built 1960 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 100

I 94

Fair

Over: INT DIAMOND RING

21M NE MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1971 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 2,110

LOWER RD

Fair

Over: MUSTER CREEK 001

1M SW KINSEY, Custer, MT

Built 1994 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 100

US 93

Fair

Over: CHURCH DRIVE

5M N KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2008 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 12,693

RD 36

Fair

Over: BN RAILROAD

WOLF CREEK MP 24.3, Lincoln, MT

Built 1968 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 99

IRR BIA RTE 7

Fair

Over: POPLAR RIVER

2 KM S OF POPLAR, Roosevelt, MT

Built 2002 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 481

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP VALLEY CENTER SPUR

2.5M W BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1966 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 15,101

I 90

Fair

Over: SEP E VALLEY CENTER SPUR

2.5M W BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1966 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 15,101

I 90

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

1M NW GREYCLIFF, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1980 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 12,830

Showing 3,051-3,100 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.