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

S 431

Good

Over: MUDDY CREEK

2M W POWER, Teton, MT

Built 1970 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 503

S 508 FH 62

Good

Over: MEADOW CREEK

11M SW YAAK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1994 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 255

FOREST SYSTEM ROAD

Good

Over: SWAN RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Lake, MT

Built 2012 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: LODGEPOLE CR

SPRUCE CR, Powell, MT

Built 1996 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 40

REMINI RD

Good

Over: TEN MILE CREEK 103

13M SW HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2015 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 230

0427: MCNAMARA ROA

Good

Over: Belmont Creek

8 mi NE of Johnsrud Rd /, Missoula, MT

Built 2020 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 25

BIG CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE NF BIG CREEK

LITTLE NF BIG CREEK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1995 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 40

RIMINI RD

Good

Over: TEN MILE CREEK 102

12M SW HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2015 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 230

IRR BIA RTE 13

Good

Over: GREASEWOOD CREEK

6.4KM N OF BLACKFEET SCHL, Glacier, MT

Built 1984 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 60

DRY FORK RD

Good

Over: DRY FK MARIAS 051

4M NW CONRAD, Pondera, MT

Built 1985 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 54

ANTELOP CREEK RD

Good

Over: JUDITH RIVER 008

1M S UTICA, Judith Basin, MT

Built 2011 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 100

REVAIS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: REVAIS CREEK 103

1.5M S MT 200, Sanders, MT

Built 2012 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 100

US 2

Good

Over: WEST FORK WILLOW CREEK

2M E DEVON, Toole, MT

Built 2019 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 899

HWY 117

Good

Over: BNSF RAILROAD

1 M W NASHUA, Valley, MT

Built 2018 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

US 93 ALTERNATE

Good

Over: FOYS LAKE ROAD

1 MILE W KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2021 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 19,555

MILL ROAD

Good

Over: HELENA VALLEY CANAL 082

2M NW HELENA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2021 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,264

S-81

Good

Over: WOLF CREEK

DENTON, Fergus, MT

Built 2022 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 369

I 90

Good

Over: FLY CREEK

16.8M W HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 3,688

I 94

Good

Over: O`FALLON CREEK

1M SW FALLON, Prairie, MT

Built 1969 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,914

COUNTY RD 306

Good

Over: TWIN LAKES CREEK 094

8M W ANACONDA, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 2013 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

DOUGLAS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: FLINT CREEK 004

8M S DRUMMOND, Granite, MT

Built 2015 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

BARR CREEK RD

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK 026

8M NW AUGUSTA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1991 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

VIDA EAST RD

Good

Over: WOLF CREEK 032

5M E VIDA, McCone, MT

Built 2006 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

SWIFT DAM RD

Good

Over: SHEEP CREEK 082

9M NW DUPUYER, Pondera, MT

Built 2014 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 40

W FK ELK CREEK RD

Good

Over: W FORK ELK CREEK 052

5M SW HERON, Sanders, MT

Built 1965 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

US 2

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

4M NW LIBBY, Lincoln, MT

Built 1989 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 3,663

US 2

Good

Over: FLOWER CREEK

LIBBY, Lincoln, MT

Built 1970 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 8,640

IRR - US 2

Good

Over: WHITE BEAR CREEK

11M W DODSON, Blaine, MT

Built 1993 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,281

US 93

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS

1M SE POLSON, Lake, MT

Built 2006 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 7,781

US 12

Good

Over: HORSE CREEK

24M NW FORSYTH, Rosebud, MT

Built 2012 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 144

US 87-US 89

Good

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK

8M SE GREAT FALLS, Cascade, MT

Built 1989 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,303

S 16-HOLLY ST

Good

Over: USRS CANAL

NW EDGE SIDNEY-HOLLY ST, Richland, MT

Built 1999 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 5,753

S 78

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

2M NE ABSAROKEE, Stillwater, MT

Built 2010 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 2,305

RAPELJE RD

Good

Over: SWEET GRASS CREEK

11M NE BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1993 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 57

E CUSTER AVE

Good

Over: INT CUSTER AVE-I 15

HELENA-E CUSTER AVE, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2012 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 16,887

FOREST ROAD

Good

Over: S.FK FLATHEAD RIVER

BY SPOTTED BEAR RANGER ST, Flathead, MT

Built 1973 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 100

KETOWKE CR ROAD

Good

Over: SUNDAY CR

SUNDAY CR, Flathead, MT

Built 1998 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 40

ROAD 358

Good

Over: HARVEY CREEK

HARVEY CREEK, Granite, MT

Built 1984 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 40

SHANE RIDGE RD

Good

Over: RED LODGE CREEK 044

2M SW BOYD, Carbon, MT

Built 2013 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 468

Good

Over: DIVERSION CANAL 079

1M W MEDICINE LAKE, Sheridan, MT

Built 2004 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 68

IRR BIA RTE 1

Good

Over: BIG HORN CANAL

16 KM W OF CROW AGENCY, Big Horn, MT

Built 2001 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 400

FS RTE 192

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

ROCK CR, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1986 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 40

FOREST ROAD

Good

Over: JUNGLE CREEK

JUNGLE CR, Flathead, MT

Built 1982 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 40

BIA 35

Good

Over: SAGE CREEK

3.2 MILES N OF BOX ELDER, Hill, MT

Built 2010 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 25

SAWMILL CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: SAWMILL CREEK

LINCOLN RANGER DISTRICT, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 2013 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 40

746 VINAL LAKE RD.

Good

Over: VINAL CREEK

VINAL CREEK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1980 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 50

PRICE RD S

Good

Over: S PONDERA COULEE 006

7M NE BRADY, Pondera, MT

Built 1973 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 100

W ROSEBUD RD

Good

Over: W ROSEBUD CREEK 034

14M SW ABSAROKEE, Stillwater, MT

Built 2017 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

S 336-OLLIE RD

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

21M NE BAKER, Fallon, MT

Built 2016 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 28

P00109

Good

Over: OLD RESERVE DRIVE

KALISPELL, Flathead, MT

Built 2016 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 18,992

Showing 4,501-4,550 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.