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

Fair

Over: LOSTHORSE CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1958 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 5

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: E FK BITTERROOT RI

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1969 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 9

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Park, MT

Built 1999 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 50

HOGUM CK ROAD

Fair

Over: BLACKFOOT RIVER

HOGUM-BLACKFOOT, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1965 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 46

NFSR 613

Fair

Over: DRY FORK BELT CREEK

RUBY HENN, Cascade, MT

Built 1956 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 50

RD 7593

Fair

Over: FISHTRAP CREEK

BEND VERMILLION, Sanders, MT

Built 1954 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 50

TRAIL CREEK RD

Fair

Over: POWDER RIVER 061

41M E MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1926 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 100

INSIDE NORTH FORK

Fair

Over: BOWMAN CREEK

2 Mi. N. of Jct. Hwy. 2 &, Flathead, MT

Built 1965 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 50

INSIDE NORTH FORK

Fair

Over: KINTLA CREEK

2 Mi. N. of Jct. Hwy. 2 &, Flathead, MT

Built 1965 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 50

ROAD 261

Fair

Over: BAD ROUTE CREEK 044

21M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1921 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 21

MANHATTAN S RD

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL 117

1M S MANHATTAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1956 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 334

Fair

Over: USBR MAIN CANAL 077

4M SW SAVAGE, Richland, MT

Built 2008 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

OLD US 10

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK 019

1M W PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1928 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,607

E BOULDER RD

Fair

Over: E BOULDER RIVER 032

4M S MCLEOD, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1967 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

LOWER CANAL RD

Fair

Over: ARROW CREEK 102

BALLANTINE, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1950 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

WHITETAIL RD

Fair

Over: WHITETAIL CREEK

2M N WHITEHALL, Jefferson, MT

Built 1983 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 399

2009: TC ACCESS

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

15 mi W of Lake Fort Peck, Valley, MT

Built 1967 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 25

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: BURNT CR

BURNT CR, Madison, MT

Built 1947 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: E F BITTERROOT

NO DATA ENTERED, Ravalli, MT

Built 1947 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

FOREST ROAD

Fair

Over: ADDITION CREEK

ADDITION CREEK, Flathead, MT

Built 1962 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 40

HOGUM CK ROAD

Fair

Over: HOGUM CREEK

HOGUM, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1962 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 46

4626 STANLEY CR RD

Fair

Over: STANLEY CR

JUST PAST JCT WITH 4605, Lincoln, MT

Built 1963 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 99

NFSR 834

Fair

Over: HARLEY CREEK

1.2 MILES WEST US89, Cascade, MT

Built 1953 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

LEWIS/CLARK CMPGRD

Fair

Over: LOLO CR

LEWIS & CLARK CAMP, Missoula, MT

Built 1964 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

I 15

Fair

Over: HIGHLAND ROAD

7.4M N DIVIDE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1976 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,436

I 15

Fair

Over: BOULDER RIVER

1.2M W BOULDER, Jefferson, MT

Built 1979 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,904

I 94

Fair

Over: INT CUSTER-S 310

CUSTER, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1973 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,385

I 94

Fair

Over: INT CUSTER-S 310

CUSTER, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1973 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,375

ROAD 255

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL 046

11M SW GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1986 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

WILDER TRAIL

Fair

Over: SACAGAWEA RIV 113

11M NE ROY, Fergus, MT

Built 2015 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

VALENTINE RD

Fair

Over: BLOOD CREEK 131

4M NW VALENTINE, Fergus, MT

Built 1980 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

FOREST GROVE RD

Fair

Over: S FORK MCDONALD CR 071

4M SW GRASSRANGE, Fergus, MT

Built 1970 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 146

COBB HILL RD

Fair

Over: HYALITE CREEK 050

4M W BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1987 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

GUNSIGHT RD

Fair

Over: TWO MEDICINE CANAL 01

10M W CUTBANK, Glacier, MT

Built 1989 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

GLOVER RD

Fair

Over: PABLO 3A CANAL 037

4M S POLSON, Lake, MT

Built 1985 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 462

KOPP RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BITTERROOT RV 062

8M NE HOT SPRINGS, Lake, MT

Built 1955 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

BIG POWDER R E RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE POWDER RIVER 028

5M E BROADUS, Powder River, MT

Built 1947 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 106

OVANDO HELMVILLE R

Fair

Over: BIG BLACKFOOT RIVER 006

6M N HELMVILLE, Powell, MT

Built 1953 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 023

Fair

Over: BRORSON CREEK 012

3M NW SIDNEY, Richland, MT

Built 1997 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

DIVIDE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: INT FEELY I 15 001

9M NE DIVIDE, Silver Bow, MT

Built 1976 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 50

AIRPORT RD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK 111

NW EDGE CHOTEAU, Teton, MT

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 437

MARIAS VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: SEP I 15 010

7M S SHELBY, Toole, MT

Built 1976 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 649

OLD HWY 10

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION DITCH 022

9M E HYSHAM, Treasure, MT

Built 2011 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 218

E I RD

Fair

Over: ARROW CREEK 145

1M E WORDEN, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1964 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

S 56TH ST W

Fair

Over: BBWA CANAL 074

BILLINGS-S 56TH ST W, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1925 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,785

DANFORD RD

Fair

Over: BIG DITCH 109

SW BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1936 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 124

N 24TH ST

Fair

Over: BBWA CANAL 207

BILLINGS-N 24TH ST W, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1988 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 5,823

IRR - US 2

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK FLATHEAD RIV

ESSEX, Flathead, MT

Built 2002 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,929

BROOKS ST-US 12

Fair

Over: BITTERROOT RIVER

MISSOULA-BROOKS ST, Missoula, MT

Built 1968 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 27,605

US 89

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

7M SW EMIGRANT, Park, MT

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,547

Showing 401-450 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.