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

IRR - S 13

Fair

Over: GADY COULEE

5M N VIDA, McCone, MT

Built 1994 Load: 80.7 t ADT: 900

BURNS RD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK CANAL 029

5M E HINSDALE, Valley, MT

Built 2004 Load: 82.6 t ADT: 100

CORPORATION RD

Fair

Over: TWO LEGGIN`S CREEK 035

7M SW HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1991 Load: 83.5 t ADT: 100

SARPY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SARPY CREEK

4M SW SANDERS, Treasure, MT

Built 1990 Load: 84.4 t ADT: 84

I 94

Fair

Over: BAD ROUTE CREEK

18M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1973 Load: 85.3 t ADT: 4,381

S 200

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

16M SW SIMMS, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1986 Load: 85.3 t ADT: 1,455

ROAD 261

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK 040

12M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1986 Load: 86.2 t ADT: 21

S 5

Fair

Over: MARRON CREEK

1M E PLENTYWOOD, Sheridan, MT

Built 1983 Load: 86.2 t ADT: 1,481

I 15

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK

1M S CRAIG, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1967 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,253

I 94

Fair

Over: LIGNITE CREEK

8M SW MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1964 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,646

I 94

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

7M SW MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1963 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,646

S 200

Fair

Over: SECOND HAY CREEK

2M SW FAIRVIEW, Richland, MT

Built 1986 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,273

S 5

Fair

Over: PLENTYWOOD CREEK

5M W PLENTYWOOD, Sheridan, MT

Built 2001 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 585

S 59

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK-STOCKPASS

7M SE MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1986 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 952

S 13

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

5M NE CIRCLE, McCone, MT

Built 1988 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 905

IRR - S 13

Fair

Over: NICKWALL CREEK

12M N VIDA, McCone, MT

Built 1995 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 979

US 191

Fair

Over: GRAYLING CREEK

15M N WEST YELLOWSTONE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1962 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 2,481

US 191

Fair

Over: GRAYLING CREEK

16M N WEST YELLOWSTONE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1962 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 2,481

S 200

Fair

Over: GYP CREEK

3M NE CIRCLE, McCone, MT

Built 1960 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 237

S 223

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

6M S CHESTER, Liberty, MT

Built 1963 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 407

S 223

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

2M S CHESTER, Liberty, MT

Built 1960 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 515

S 261

Fair

Over: PARSON CREEK

28M N WIBAUX, Richland, MT

Built 2008 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 74

IRR - S 313

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW DITCH

7M SW HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1988 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,049

MARSH RD

Fair

Over: CAINS COULEE

S GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1964 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 434

SLAUGHTER HSE LN

Fair

Over: S FORK SMITH RIVER 021

3M SW WHITE SULPHUR SPR, Meagher, MT

Built 1991 Load: 94.3 t ADT: 100

BATTLEFIELD ROAD

Fair

Over: DEEP COULEE

I-90 EXIT 510 EAST ON U, Big Horn, MT

Built 1938 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 150

I 15

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

13M N DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1973 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,803

I 15

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

WOLF CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1966 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,043

I 15

Fair

Over: S PONDERA COULEE

3M N BRADY, Pondera, MT

Built 1964 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,206

I 90

Fair

Over: DEMPSEY CREEK

N SAGER LANE OVERPASS, Powell, MT

Built 1973 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,571

I 90

Fair

Over: WHITETAIL CREEK

1M E WHITEHALL, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,289

I 90

Fair

Over: WALKING PATH

BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 2011 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,307

I 90

Fair

Over: CITY COUNTY DRAIN DITCH

BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1966 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 27,814

I 90

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL

3.1M S HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1971 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 8,497

I 94

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK-STOCKPASS

8M NE MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1962 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,494

I 94

Fair

Over: ASH CREEK

2M E TERRY, Prairie, MT

Built 1969 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,828

I 94

Fair

Over: CRACKER BOX CREEK

13M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1973 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,277

I 94

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

4M SW GLENIDVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1976 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,537

I 94

Fair

Over: YATES CREEK

1M E WIBAUX, Wibaux, MT

Built 1962 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,583

I 94

Fair

Over: YATES CREEK

2M E WIBAUX, Wibaux, MT

Built 2000 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,583

RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: THOMPSON CREEK 032

12M W ALZADA, Carter, MT

Built 1987 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 371

PLEASANT VIEW RD

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL 049

8M S GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1983 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 523

Fair

Over: N FK THIRTEN MILE CR 064

5M E BLOOMFIELD, Dawson, MT

Built 1988 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 26

WILLARD RD W

Fair

Over: O`FALLON CREEK 005

31M SW PLEVNA, Fallon, MT

Built 1995 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

UPPER CHIPPEWA RD

Fair

Over: CHIPPEWA CREEK 021

8M NW GRASSRANGE, Fergus, MT

Built 1962 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

S BARBER RD

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK 022

5M S BARBER, Golden Valley, MT

Built 1983 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 49

COUNTY RD 332

Fair

Over: LODGE CREEK 038

26M N HAVRE, Hill, MT

Built 1986 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

EAGLE PASS TRAIL

Fair

Over: S KICKING HORSE RES 010

6M SE RONAN, Lake, MT

Built 1991 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

S 21

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK COULEE 124

5M E AUGUSTA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1982 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 258

MERIDIAN RD

Fair

Over: FRED BURR CREEK 109

5M S VICTOR, Ravalli, MT

Built 2009 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

Showing 3,151-3,200 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.