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

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Beaverhead, MT

Built 2008 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 50

BOZEMAN CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: BOZEMAN CREEK

S. OF BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 40

I 15

Good

Over: PONDERA CANAL

9M N CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1972 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,490

I 90

Good

Over: INT GALEN

3.7M N WARM SPRINGS, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1978 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 5,740

I 90

Good

Over: INT LOGAN

LOGAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1963 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9,524

CO RD 002 FH 73

Good

Over: GRASSHOPPER CREEK 016

25M NW DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1998 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 243

SALEM RD

Good

Over: BELT CREEK 071

16M NE GREAT FALLS, Cascade, MT

Built 1998 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

UPPER HIGHWOOD CR

Good

Over: HIGHWOOD CREEK 041

11M SE HIGHWOOD, Chouteau, MT

Built 2005 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

GAP RD

Good

Over: HIGHWOOD CREEK 042

8M S BIG SAG, Chouteau, MT

Built 2005 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

LOWER MARIS RD

Good

Over: TETON RIVER 011

1M SW LOMA, Chouteau, MT

Built 1992 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

WESTMORE RD

Good

Over: PENNEL CREEK 022

16M NW PLEVNA, Fallon, MT

Built 1991 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 20

ROSS FORK ROAD

Good

Over: MIDDLE FORK ROCK CR 021

15M SW PHILLIPSBURG, Granite, MT

Built 1991 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

BARR CREEK RD

Good

Over: N FORK WILLOW CREEK 125

9M NW AUGUSTA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1991 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

FINDON LANE RD

Good

Over: N FK MUSSELSHELL 019

3M N MARTINSDALE, Meagher, MT

Built 2010 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

NF-581

Good

Over: S FORK MUSSELSHELL 026

LENNEP, Meagher, MT

Built 1987 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

DESCHAMPS LN

Good

Over: LAVALLE CREEK 022

8M NW MISSOULA, Missoula, MT

Built 2009 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 669

MIDALE RD

Good

Over: BIG WARM CREEK 045

22M S MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1995 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

CHURCH RD S

Good

Over: PONDERA COULEE 005

20M NE BRADY, Pondera, MT

Built 1986 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

COUNTY RD 358

Good

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 094

4M NE CRANE, Richland, MT

Built 2005 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 36

UPPER RESERVOIR RD

Good

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL 069

4M N LONEPINE, Sanders, MT

Built 1991 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

E LAKE HWY

Good

Over: LAKE CREEK 060

9M E MEDICINE LAKE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 108

SOAP GULCH RD

Good

Over: SEP SOAP CRK RD I 15 005

3M N MELROSE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1973 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

SLEEPY HOLLOW RD

Good

Over: W ROSEBUD CREEK 032

11M SW ABSAROKEE, Stillwater, MT

Built 2004 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

GUS BLAZE RD

Good

Over: SEP GUS BLASE ROAD 011

3M S OILMONT, Toole, MT

Built 1980 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

MISSION VALLEY RD

Good

Over: FROZE TO DEATH CR 013

2M NW MYERS, Treasure, MT

Built 1986 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9

YEOMAN RD

Good

Over: BBWA CANAL 094

4M SW SHEPHERD, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2010 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

OLD HARDIN RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK 025

LOCKWOOD-OLD HARDIN RD, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1994 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,537

RIVEROAKS DR

Good

Over: BBWA CANAL 083

BILLINGS-RIVEROAKS DR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1982 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,768

US 87

Good

Over: RAZOR CREEK

16M S KLEIN, Musselshell, MT

Built 1995 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,497

S 5

Good

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

2M S ANTELOPE, Sheridan, MT

Built 1986 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,125

US 12 FH 11

Good

Over: LOLO CREEK

1M S LOLO HOT SPRINGS, Missoula, MT

Built 1951 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 746

US 93 BYPASS

Good

Over: ASHLEY CREEK

SW KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2010 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,783

TURNER RD

Good

Over: WOODY ISLAND CREEK

6M N TURNER, Blaine, MT

Built 1981 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 152

S 261

Good

Over: SHADWELL CREEK

19M S SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1971 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 86

KERR DAM RD

Good

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL

2M SW POLSON, Lake, MT

Built 1995 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,099

BELL CROSSING

Good

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER OVERFLO

2M NE VICTOR, Ravalli, MT

Built 1974 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,762

S 500

Good

Over: NORTH WILLOW CREEK

13M SW MOSBY, Petroleum, MT

Built 1975 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 33

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 2011 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 40

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: WATCHTOWER CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1990 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 30

CANYON CR ROAD

Good

Over: CANYON CREEK

2ND BRIDGE ON CANYON CR, Flathead, MT

Built 1977 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 5

RD 4724

Good

Over: S FK MILLER CR

SOUTH FORK MILLER CREEK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1978 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 50

NFSR #144

Good

Over: WEST FORK TETON RIVER

1/2 MI SO OF W.F. STATION, Teton, MT

Built 1977 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 65

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: BIG CREEK

BIG CR, Mineral, MT

Built 1951 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 40

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: FLAT CREEK CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Mineral, MT

Built 2004 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 40

4TH ST

Good

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 073

WEST EDGE FAIRVIEW-4TH ST, Richland, MT

Built 2008 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 339

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: COOPER CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Sanders, MT

Built 2000 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 40

MONAD RD

Good

Over: BBWA CANAL 151

BILLINGS-MONAD RD, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1986 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 7,079

CLIFF RD

Good

Over: WEST BENCH CANAL 028

1M W DILLON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 2018 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 100

HOMESTEADER RD

Good

Over: FIVE MILE CREEK 058

1M NE EDGAR, Carbon, MT

Built 2018 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 100

ROUNDHOUSE RD

Good

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK 135

2M S LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 2016 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 100

Showing 3,701-3,750 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.