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

FDR 3411

Fair

Over: BELT CREEK

MANY PINES CAMPGROUND, Cascade, MT

Built 1962 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 50

FDR 204

Fair

Over: MOOSE CREEK

1.3 MI NE RD 119/204 JCT, Meagher, MT

Built 1956 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 50

FOYS BEND LN

Fair

Over: ASHLEY CREEK 003

2M SE KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2001 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: VERMILION RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Sanders, MT

Built 1956 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: ST REGIS RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Mineral, MT

Built 1940 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 50

OLIES RD

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK 088

6M E DENTON, Fergus, MT

Built 1983 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 100

FDR 182

Fair

Over: MINER CR

MINER CR, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1947 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 50

DEEP CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: DEEP CR

DEEP CR, Lincoln, MT

Built 1958 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 50

GOING-TO-THE-SUN R

Fair

Over: AVALANCHE CREEK

17 miles northeast of U.S, Flathead, MT

Built 1935 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,230

I 90

Fair

Over: JEFFERSON RIVER OVERFLOW

THREE FORKS, Gallatin, MT

Built 1969 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 8,465

PARADISE VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: SIX MILE CREEK 028

4M SE CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1975 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

E HIGHWOOD RD

Fair

Over: BELT CREEK 002

8M N BELT, Cascade, MT

Built 1935 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

CENTRAL AVE

Fair

Over: BELT CREEK 084

ARMINGTON, Cascade, MT

Built 1938 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 284

ROAD 261

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL 041

13M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1920 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 21

JEFFERSON SCHL RD

Fair

Over: SEP I 94 002

GLENDIVE-JEFFRSN SCHL RD, Dawson, MT

Built 1969 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 520

COUNTY ROAD 526

Fair

Over: N FK BURNS CREEK 062

13M N INTAKE, Dawson, MT

Built 1930 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 532

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 018

10M E CIRCLE, Dawson, MT

Built 1938 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

S 569

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK 040

4M SE ANACONDA, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1950 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 562

ERLE LN

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK 102

SUFFOLK, Fergus, MT

Built 1981 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

OLD US 2 E

Fair

Over: ABBOT CREEK 063

MARTIN CITY, Flathead, MT

Built 1931 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

SIXTEEN MILE ROAD

Fair

Over: SIXTEEN MILE CREEK 071

2M E MAUDLOW, Gallatin, MT

Built 1954 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

PINE BUTTE RD

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL 116

6M S BELGRADE, Gallatin, MT

Built 1987 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

LITTLE BEAR RD

Fair

Over: BIG BEAR CREEK 118

4M S GALLATIN GATEWAY, Gallatin, MT

Built 1987 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

TEBAY LN

Fair

Over: JEF RIV OVERFLOW 013

3M W CARDWELL, Jefferson, MT

Built 2003 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 177

SINCLAIR CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SINCLAIR CREEK 127

2M NE EUREKA, Lincoln, MT

Built 1977 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

S BOULDER RD

Fair

Over: UPR S BOULDER RIVER 055

4M S JEFFERSON ISLAND, Madison, MT

Built 2003 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

DEAN CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MUSSELSHELL RIVER 004

15M SW ROUNDUP, Musselshell, MT

Built 1988 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

FORKS RD

Fair

Over: STINKY CREEK 109

10M NW SACO, Phillips, MT

Built 1988 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

WILLIAMS RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME DITCH 053

WILLIAMS, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 54

HILLSIDE RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME DITCH 049

1M W CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1960 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

PRIMROSE RD N

Fair

Over: PONDERA COULEE 018

4M NE CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1979 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

OLD HWY 10 E

Fair

Over: RR 046

1M W FALLON, Prairie, MT

Built 1934 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 504

FRONTAGE ROAD 114

Fair

Over: YELLOWSTONE RIVER 015

1M NE FALLON, Prairie, MT

Built 1945 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

GRANTSDALE RD

Fair

Over: SKALKAHO CR OVERFLOW 040

GRANTSDALE, Ravalli, MT

Built 1935 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 471

TROUT CREEK RD

Fair

Over: TROUT CREEK 025

2M W TROUT CREEK, Sanders, MT

Built 1982 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

S REDSTONE RD

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK 040

12M S REDSTONE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1950 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 64

PALMER ST

Fair

Over: INT RAMSEY I 90 013

3M W ROCKER, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1967 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

E BOULDER RD

Fair

Over: E BOULDER RIVER 034

6M S MCLEOD, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1971 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

7TH LN NE

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE 128

12M NW POWER, Teton, MT

Built 1978 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 27

NUTTER LEASE RD

Fair

Over: SEP I 15 008

4M N OILMONT, Toole, MT

Built 1971 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

ZOO DR

Fair

Over: SHILOH INTERCHANGE 014

BILLINGS-ZOO DR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2001 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 9,713

KOHRS ST

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 065

DEER LODGE-KOHRS ST, Powell, MT

Built 2003 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

US 2

Fair

Over: KOOTENAI RIVER-RR

2M NW TROY, Lincoln, MT

Built 1942 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 2,402

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

5M SE ESSEX, Flathead, MT

Built 1966 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,929

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

4M SW SUMMIT, Flathead, MT

Built 1966 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,929

15TH ST N-US 87

Fair

Over: MISSOURI R-RIVERS TRAIL

GREAT FALLS-15TH ST N, Cascade, MT

Built 1962 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 13,743

US 12

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

25M NW FORSYTH, Rosebud, MT

Built 1940 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 144

S 200

Fair

Over: DEARBORN RIVER

25M SW SIMMS, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1949 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,382

S 200

Fair

Over: TIMBER CREEK

19M W BROCKWAY, McCone, MT

Built 1939 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,012

S 243

Fair

Over: WHITEWATER CREEK

10 M NW SACO, Phillips, MT

Built 1976 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 39

Showing 301-350 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.