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

US 191

Good

Over: LITTLE COTTONWOOD CREEK

17M NE MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 2015 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 211

S 220

Good

Over: MUDDY CREEK

12M N CHOTEAU, Teton, MT

Built 1981 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 383

GREEN MEADOW DR

Good

Over: TEN MILE CREEK

1M N HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1992 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 4,808

GREEN MEADOW DR

Good

Over: HELENA VALLEY CANAL

2M N HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1992 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 4,483

JOYLAND RD

Good

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

2M NW LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 1999 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 66

MEYERS RD

Good

Over: ALKALI CREEK

4M NW MYERS, Treasure, MT

Built 1977 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 95

OILMONT HWY

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

16M E OILMONT, Toole, MT

Built 1971 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 105

IRR - S 358

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

5M S CUT BANK, Glacier, MT

Built 1968 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 265

FISH HATCHERY RD

Good

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

5M SE LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 1996 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 161

COUNTY ROAD 280

Good

Over: SODA BUTTE CREEK

SILVER GATE, Park, MT

Built 2022 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

ROAD 325

Good

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Beaverhead, MT

Built 2014 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: SWIFT CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 2011 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 10

FOREST ROAD

Good

Over: NORTH FORK LOST CREEK

SOUTH LOST, Lake, MT

Built 2014 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 40

NFSR 6438

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

N 3.9 MI. JCT. US12& 6438, Meagher, MT

Built 2010 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 40

NEW HOPE RD

Good

Over: SNAKE CREEK 044

6M W HARLEM, Blaine, MT

Built 2004 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

FORT MAGINNIS RD

Good

Over: FORDS CREEK 141

12M N CHEADLE, Fergus, MT

Built 2012 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

SCOTT CROSSING

Good

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK 033

5M NW LEWISTOWN, Fergus, MT

Built 2009 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

MT 38-SKALKAHO RD

Good

Over: W FORK ROCK CREEK 006

10M E SKALKAHO PASS, Granite, MT

Built 1991 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 219

LOWER SAGE CR RD

Good

Over: SAGE CREEK 007

16M NE STANFORD, Judith Basin, MT

Built 2012 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

REVAIS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: REVAIS CREEK 102

2.7M S MT 200, Sanders, MT

Built 2012 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 34

Good

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK

2.1 KM WEST OF POPLAR, Roosevelt, MT

Built 1997 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 250

BANNOCK TRAIL

Good

Over: WYOMING CREEK

1M E SILVER GATE, Park, MT

Built 2022 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Sanders, MT

Built 2010 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 50

MARSHALL LAKE RD

Good

Over: W FK CLEARWATER

MARSHALL LK, Missoula, MT

Built 2008 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 50

PLEASANT VIEW DR

Good

Over: SWEATHOUSE CREEK 002

1M W VICTOR, Ravalli, MT

Built 2009 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 100

SLEEPING CHILD RD

Good

Over: TWO BEAR CREEK 110

9M NE DARBY, Ravalli, MT

Built 2010 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 347

OLD US HWY 2

Good

Over: DODSON S CANAL 097

5M E MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 2017 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 170

W BEARTOOTH DR

Good

Over: BIG DITCH 161

NW LAUREL-W BEARTOOTH DR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2018 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

TWO MILE DRIVE

Good

Over: P00109-KALISPELL BYPASS

KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2016 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,009

BEATTY ROAD

Good

Over: FARMERS CANAL

2M SE FOUR CORNERS, Gallatin, MT

Built 2017 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

OLD HWY 87

Good

Over: PERITSA CREEK

6M W HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 2020 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 561

BAXTER LANE E

Good

Over: HYALITE CREEK

5M W BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 2019 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,679

STREAM

Good

Over: SOUTH MISSION RESERVIOR

6 MILES EAST ST IGNATIUS, Lake, MT

Built 2019 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

ROCK CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 077

3M SW WISDOM, Beaverhead, MT

Built 2021 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

US 87

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

2M NE MOORE, Fergus, MT

Built 2021 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,202

FARREN HILL ROAD

Good

Over: MIDDLE FORK BEAVER CR

6.1M S GLENGARRY, Fergus, MT

Built 2021 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

LUTHER ROSCOE ROAD

Good

Over: BUTCHER CREEK

3.5M NW LUTHER, Carbon, MT

Built 2014 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

Chicago AVE

Good

Over: Russell Creek

Ekalaka-Chicago AVE, Carter, MT

Built 2019 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 477

NFSR 330-A1

Good

Over: SNOWBANK CREEK

COPPER CREEK AREA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2013 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 40

GRAVE CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: CLARENCE CR

CLARENCE CR, Lincoln, MT

Built 1981 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 40

RD 228

Good

Over: BRISTOW CR

BRISTOW CREEK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 99

GOLD RIDGE ROAD

Good

Over: GOLD CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Missoula, MT

Built 2013 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 40

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: FISHTRAP CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Sanders, MT

Built 2009 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 40

I 90

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK-INT RAMP

9.9M E LIVINGSTON, Park, MT

Built 1987 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 53

I 90

Good

Over: INT SPRINGDALE

SPRINGDALE, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1981 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 6,078

I 90

Good

Over: INT SPRINGDALE

SPRINGDALE, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1981 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 6,078

I 94

Good

Over: INT HYSHAM

14.9M E BIGHORN, Treasure, MT

Built 1964 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,554

CAPITOL RD

Good

Over: LITTLE MISSOURI RIV 014

E CAPITOL, Carter, MT

Built 2003 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

MEYER AVE

Good

Over: SAND COULEE CREEK 081

1M S TRACY, Cascade, MT

Built 1950 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

TOGNETTI RD

Good

Over: JUDITH RIVER 037

6M NW MOORE, Fergus, MT

Built 1995 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

Showing 3,901-3,950 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.