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

CB ROUTE RD

Poor

Over: BUFFALO RAPIDS CANAL042

5M NE FALLON, Prairie, MT

Built 1939 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 80

WENDEL KINCHELOE R

Poor

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK 002

20M NW SUMATRA, Rosebud, MT

Built 1950 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 100

UPPER DEER CR RD

Poor

Over: UPPER DEER CREEK 028

6M SE BIG TIMBER, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1975 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 100

ROCK CR DAM RD

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK 098

6M N HINSDALE, Valley, MT

Built 1955 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 100

FOX FARM RD

Poor

Over: ESPEIL COULEE 008

9M E GLASGOW, Valley, MT

Built 1930 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 100

6TH AVE S

Poor

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK 133

LEWISTOWN-6TH AVE S, Fergus, MT

Built 1962 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 434

W BROADWAY STREET

Poor

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK 062

LEWISTOWN-W BROADWAY ST, Fergus, MT

Built 1940 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 100

THIRD AVENUE S

Poor

Over: LITTLE CASINO CREEK 138

LEWISTOWN-3RD AVE S, Fergus, MT

Built 2006 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 226

Poor

Over: COAL CREEK 038

13M N RICHLAND, Daniels, MT

Built 1971 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 100

OLD TOWN RD

Poor

Over: JEFFERSON RIVER 063

2M N THREE FORKS, Gallatin, MT

Built 1894 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 100

BIRCH RD

Poor

Over: ROSS FORK CREEK 018

2M NW SIPPLE, Judith Basin, MT

Built 1925 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 15

HOMESTEAD DR

Poor

Over: PINKHAM CREEK 140

9M SW EUREKA, Lincoln, MT

Built 1914 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 100

SILVER SPRING RD

Poor

Over: RUBY RIVER 023

3M S SHERIDAN, Madison, MT

Built 1927 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 131

OLD CAT CREEK RD

Poor

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK 008

5M NE WINNETT, Petroleum, MT

Built 1930 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 100

FRONTAGE RD

Poor

Over: SARPY CREEK 003

4M E HYSHAM, Treasure, MT

Built 1925 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 28

RIVER RD

Poor

Over: IRRIGATION DITCH 005

3M W HYSHAM, Treasure, MT

Built 1979 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 17

BROWNS BRIDGE RD

Poor

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 123

6.2M S MELROSE, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1915 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 100

COUNTY RD 244

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK 132

28M SE MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1915 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 13

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK MILK RIVER

31KM NORTH BLACKFEET SCHL, Glacier, MT

Built 1979 Load: 6.5 t ADT: 60

TRULY CUTOFF RD

Poor

Over: SMITH RIVER 033

7M SE ULM, Cascade, MT

Built 1908 Load: 6.8 t ADT: 100

BIG SWAMP CR RD /

Poor

Over: BIG HOLE RIVER 089

5M NW JACKSON, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1925 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 100

RYAN CANYON RD

Poor

Over: BEAVERHEAD RIVER 023

1.2M S BARRETTS INT, Beaverhead, MT

Built 1908 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 14

HWY 287 BYPASS

Poor

Over: MISSOURI RIVER 019

TOSTON, Broadwater, MT

Built 1920 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 175

MAIDEN ROCK RD

Poor

Over: BRIDGER CREEK 106

3M E BOZEMAN, Gallatin, MT

Built 1940 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 100

PAULSON RD

Poor

Over: PABLO A CANAL 034

5M S POLSON, Lake, MT

Built 1960 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 100

WILLOW RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE BLACKFOOT R 042

E ELLISTON, Powell, MT

Built 1991 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 100

MICHEL CREEK RD

Poor

Over: CAMAS CREEK 002

6M N PERMA, Sanders, MT

Built 1978 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 100

LOVERS LANE

Poor

Over: ELK CREEK 041

S AUGUSTA, Lewis and Clark, MT

Built 1914 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 100

REDROCK RD

Poor

Over: FORT BELKNAP CANAL 008

3M NW CHINOOK, Blaine, MT

Built 1933 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 211

ALKALI RD

Poor

Over: ALKALI CREEK 001

7M SW MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1920 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

MCLEOD MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WEST BOULDER RIVER 025

MCLEOD, Sweet Grass, MT

Built 1912 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

FDR #9202

Poor

Over: MOOSE CREEK

MOOSE CREEK CAMPGROUND D7, Meagher, MT

Built 1959 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 50

RANDALL RD

Poor

Over: TWO LEGGIN`S CANAL 015

3M SW HARDIN, Big Horn, MT

Built 1940 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

WELCH RD

Poor

Over: TWO MEDICINE CANAL 016

12M SW CUT BANK, Glacier, MT

Built 1960 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

POTTER CREEK RD

Poor

Over: POTTER CREEK 005

1M N WILSALL, Park, MT

Built 1915 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

CHOKECHERRY LN

Poor

Over: LITTLE BLACKFOOT R 027

4M SW AVON, Powell, MT

Built 1914 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 19

1ST AVE

Poor

Over: SIXTEENMILE CREEK 029

RINGLING, Meagher, MT

Built 1976 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 100

HUGHES LN

Poor

Over: FLATWILLOW CREEK 016

16M S WINNETT, Petroleum, MT

Built 1950 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 100

PUGSLEY RD

Poor

Over: MARIAS RIVER 006

18M SW CHESTER, Liberty, MT

Built 1951 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

HAMMOND CREEK RD

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK 025

5M E CLYDE PARK, Park, MT

Built 1967 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

YOUTH RANCH RD

Poor

Over: WHITEWATER CREEK 110

8M S WHITEWATER, Phillips, MT

Built 1977 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

REGINA RD

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK 049

23M S MALTA, Phillips, MT

Built 1983 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 42

HOG RANCH RD

Poor

Over: BIG WARM CREEK 026

24M S DODSON, Phillips, MT

Built 1960 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 209

Poor

Over: ROSEBUD CREEK

8.1 KM WEST OF LAME DEER, Big Horn, MT

Built 1971 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 100

SOAP CREEK RD

Poor

Over: BIG HORN CANAL 009

11M SW ST XAVIER, Big Horn, MT

Built 1946 Load: 11.5 t ADT: 63

ROAD 238

Poor

Over: CLEAR CREEK 027

19M W GLENDIVE, Dawson, MT

Built 1979 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 50

BEAUTY CREEK RD

Poor

Over: DIRTY CREEK 047

3M W BROCKWAY, McCone, MT

Built 1938 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 100

NFSR 839

Poor

Over: BELT CREEK

8.4 MI. W OF US 89 JCT, Cascade, MT

Built 1954 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 46

COUNTY ROAD 098

Poor

Over: CLARK FORK RIVER 020

2M N WARM SPRINGS, Deer Lodge, MT

Built 1920 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 100

LIL BITTERROOT RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE BITTERROOT R 061

7M NE HOT SPRINGS, Lake, MT

Built 1965 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 100

Showing 4,901-4,950 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.