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

PLEVNA RD N

Good

Over: PENNEL CREEK

6 M N PLEVNA, Fallon, MT

Built 2020 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 107

US 93

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS

3M N STEVENSVILLE, Ravalli, MT

Built 2006 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 11,080

US 93

Good

Over: NORTH BASS CREEK

4M N STEVENSVILLE, Ravalli, MT

Built 2005 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 11,080

KNAPP RD

Good

Over: LITTLE BITTERROOT RV 079

9M SE HOT SPRINGS, Sanders, MT

Built 2002 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 100

S 508 FH 62

Good

Over: PETE CREEK

2M W YAAK, Lincoln, MT

Built 1989 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 269

10TH LN NW

Good

Over: MUDDY CREEK 025

12M N CHOTEAU, Teton, MT

Built 2009 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 100

CONLEY AVE

Good

Over: CLARK FORK RIVER

DEER LODGE, Powell, MT

Built 2021 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: STORM LAKE CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 2011 Load: 65.4 t ADT: 10

TAYLOR FK. ROAD

Good

Over: TAYLOR FK. CREEK

TAYLOR FORK ROAD, Gallatin, MT

Built 1997 Load: 66.1 t ADT: 40

IRR BIA RTE 1012

Good

Over: NORTH FORK JOCKO RIVER

24.1KM NORTHEAST OF ARLEE, Lake, MT

Built 2003 Load: 66.6 t ADT: 30

MANY GLACIER ROAD

Good

Over: SWIFT CURRENT CREEK

11.3 miles west of U.S. R, Glacier, MT

Built 2014 Load: 67.1 t ADT: 300

JAP EVANS RD

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

9M NE DEVON, Toole, MT

Built 2020 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 100

ROAD 1077

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK 018

30M N WOLF POINT, Roosevelt, MT

Built 1995 Load: 70.8 t ADT: 100

CUSTER FRTG RD

Good

Over: FLY CREEK 002

POMPEYS PILLAR, Yellowstone, MT

Built 2016 Load: 71.7 t ADT: 146

S 200

Good

Over: WILDLIFE CROSSING

6 MILES EAST OF THOMPSON, Sanders, MT

Built 2019 Load: 73.5 t ADT: 2,136

MOOSE LAKE RD

Good

Over: E FORK ROCK CREEK 030

10M SW PORTERS CORNER, Granite, MT

Built 1950 Load: 74.4 t ADT: 183

IRR BIA RTE 166

Good

Over: REVIAS CREEK

7.5KM SOUTH OF HWY 200, Sanders, MT

Built 2002 Load: 75.5 t ADT: 30

US 93

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UPASS-DRAINAGE

1M N ST IGNATIUS, Lake, MT

Built 2006 Load: 76.2 t ADT: 7,419

US 2

Good

Over: DODSON CREEK OVERFLOW

2M E DODSON, Phillips, MT

Built 2008 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 1,189

WEBSTER RD

Good

Over: N FK COAL BANK CREEK 004

14M SE WEBSTER, Fallon, MT

Built 2017 Load: 78.0 t ADT: 100

W KOOTENAI RD

Good

Over: DODGE CREEK 138

7M NW REXFORD, Lincoln, MT

Built 1974 Load: 78.0 t ADT: 100

US 93

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UPASS-DRAINAGE

2M N ST IGNATIUS, Lake, MT

Built 2006 Load: 78.9 t ADT: 7,419

BLUE CREEK RD

Good

Over: BLUE CREEK

7M S BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1982 Load: 78.9 t ADT: 796

S 24

Good

Over: GALPIN COULEE

4M NW FORT PECK, Valley, MT

Built 1993 Load: 80.7 t ADT: 762

BIA RTE 1

Good

Over: BLACKTAIL CREEK

4.0KM SE OF HEART BUTTE, Pondera, MT

Built 2021 Load: 81.6 t ADT: 700

IRR BIA RTE 130

Good

Over: WEST MAGPIE CREEK

1.6KM N TO US HWY 10, Sanders, MT

Built 2003 Load: 81.9 t ADT: 30

IRR - US 191

Good

Over: BLACK COULEE

13M SW MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 2008 Load: 84.4 t ADT: 375

US 93

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UPASS-DRAINAGE

1M N RAVALLI, Lake, MT

Built 2006 Load: 85.3 t ADT: 6,822

FOOTHILL RD

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK 044

2M E ST IGNATIUS, Lake, MT

Built 1988 Load: 87.1 t ADT: 100

REAGAN RD

Good

Over: ROCKY COULEE 039

20M N CUTBANK, Glacier, MT

Built 2004 Load: 88.0 t ADT: 100

US 2

Good

Over: EXETER CREEK

4M W MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1990 Load: 88.0 t ADT: 1,388

WHITE PINE CREEK R

Good

Over: WHITE PINE CREEK

2M NW WHITE PINE, Sanders, MT

Built 1961 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 100

I 15

Good

Over: LITTLE PRICKLY PEAR CR

2M NW SEIBEN INT, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1965 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,765

LONE MOUNTAIN TRL

Good

Over: N FK W GALLATIN RIV 005

4M W BIG SKY, Gallatin, MT

Built 1982 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 2,798

SPOKANE AVE

Good

Over: WHITEFISH RIVER

WHITEFISH-SPOKANE AVE, Flathead, MT

Built 1959 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 15,755

S 59

Good

Over: NORTH WOMAN CREEK

9M SE MILES CITY, Custer, MT

Built 1986 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 952

S 200

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

7M W OVANDO, Powell, MT

Built 1954 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 2,627

S 13

Good

Over: DRAINAGE

4M N VIDA, McCone, MT

Built 1994 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 896

IRR - S 13

Good

Over: DRAINAGE-STOCKPASS

11M N VIDA, McCone, MT

Built 1995 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 979

S 3

Good

Over: NORTH FORK ALKALI CREEK

8M NW BILLINGS, Yellowstone, MT

Built 1992 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 2,553

S 5

Good

Over: DRAINAGE

4M E FLAXVILLE, Daniels, MT

Built 2011 Load: 90.7 t ADT: 321

BELLVIEW RD

Good

Over: SEVEN MILE COULEE 130

6M SW CHOTEAU, Teton, MT

Built 1962 Load: 93.4 t ADT: 100

US 212

Good

Over: PUMPKIN CREEK

20M W BROADUS, Powder River, MT

Built 2012 Load: 95.3 t ADT: 2,086

I 15

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

3M N WOLF CREEK, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1967 Load: 98.0 t ADT: 4,253

MT Route S-366

Good

Over: Tiber Dam Spillway

14.6 mi. SW of Chester MT, Liberty, MT

Built 1954 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 75

GOING-TO-THE-SUN R

Good

Over: ROSE CREEK

6.2 miles southwest from, Glacier, MT

Built 2013 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,942

I 90

Good

Over: DRAINAGE

ST. REGIS, Mineral, MT

Built 1986 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 6,360

I 90

Good

Over: DRAINAGE

4.8M E BEARMOUTH INT, Granite, MT

Built 1971 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 11,980

I 90

Good

Over: COVE IRRIGATION DITCH

6.2M W PARK CITY, Stillwater, MT

Built 1970 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,939

I 94

Good

Over: SEP RR

18.6M E BIGHORN, Treasure, MT

Built 1973 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,977

Showing 4,801-4,850 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.