State Spotlight

Montana Bridge Infrastructure: A Complete Analysis

A comprehensive look at Montana's bridge inventory, including condition grades, highest-traffic crossings, worst-rated structures, and oldest bridges.

By BridgeStats Data Team

Montana is home to 5,235 bridges spanning 56 counties, making it one of the most significant bridge inventories in the country. These bridges carry a combined 8,590,648 vehicle crossings every day. Here is a comprehensive look at the state of Montana's bridge infrastructure based on the latest National Bridge Inventory data.

5,235

Total Bridges

C

Infrastructure Grade

7.4%

Poor Condition

48 years

Average Age

Montana at a Glance

Montana earns an overall infrastructure grade of C based on the percentage of its bridges in poor condition. Currently, 388 bridges (7.4%) are rated poor, compared to the national average of 6.7%. The average bridge in Montana is 48 years old, younger than the national average of 48 years.

Of the state's 5,235 bridges, 1,682 are in good condition, 3,165 are fair, and 388 are poor. View the full breakdown on the [Montana report card](/reports/montana).

Most-Traveled Bridges in Montana

These are the bridges carrying the highest daily traffic volumes across Montana. High-traffic bridges are critical infrastructure -- their condition directly affects the commutes of tens of thousands of drivers.

# BridgeRating
1N RESERVE ST

over CLARK FORK R FLOOD PLAIN

62.3
2N RESERVE ST

over CLARK FORK RIVER

62.3
3RESERVE ST

over W BROADWAY ST-RR

47.7
4I90

over MT Power RR Spur

74.6
5BROOKS ST-US 12

over BITTERROOT RIVER

64.2
6I 90

over CITY COUNTY DRAIN DITCH

62.8
7I 90

over GRANT CREEK

80.0
8KING AVE W

over BBWA CANAL

71.5
9N SEVENTH AVE

over INT N 7TH AVE-I 90

64.0
10US 93

over STILLWATER RIVER

65.6

Worst-Condition Bridges in Montana

The following bridges have the lowest sufficiency ratings in Montana. These structures are the most likely candidates for federal repair or replacement funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

# BridgeRating
1HWY 287 BYPASS

over MISSOURI RIVER 019

16.3
2STRATER RD

over DODSON SOUTH CANAL 116

16.9
3BIRCH RD

over ROSS FORK CREEK 018

18.6
4GLOVER RD

over PABLO 3A CANAL 037

19.0
5BRIDGE ST

over SWAN RIVER 110

19.0
6OLD TOWN RD

over JEFFERSON RIVER 063

19.3
7HWY 91 N

over BIG HOLE RIVER 041

19.4
8RIVER RD

over IRRIGATION DITCH 005

20.5
9ED LAVELL LN

over SIXTEENMILE CREEK 039

20.6
10THIRD AVENUE S

over LITTLE CASINO CREEK 138

21.6

Oldest Bridges in Montana

Montana's oldest bridges tell the story of the state's transportation history. Some of these structures have been in continuous service for over a century.

# BridgeRating
1S HOWIE ST

over REEDERS ALLEY 001

24.7
2OLD TOWN RD

over JEFFERSON RIVER 063

19.3
3AUGUSTA RD

over DEARBORN RIVER 011

36.2
4OLD TOWN RD

over JEFFERSON RIVER 004

32.0
5WILLIAMS BR RD

over JEFFERSON RIVER 046

28.6
6NO DATA ENTERED

over ST REGIS RIVER

65.9
7VERMILION RIV RD

over LYONS CREEK 032

72.4
8N LOCATE RD

over LOCATE CREEK 045

48.0
9BIRDTAIL RD

over FLAT CREEK 036

39.6
10SUNDANCE BENCH RD

over MADISON RIVER 046

41.5

What These Numbers Mean for Montana

Montana's bridge infrastructure grade of C reflects both the current condition of the state's bridges and the scale of the challenge ahead. With an average bridge age of 48 years, many of these structures are approaching or past the 50-75 year design life typical of most bridges. The state's ability to maintain and replace aging bridges will determine whether conditions improve or deteriorate in the coming decade.

For county-by-county breakdowns, historical trends, and individual bridge profiles, visit the [Montana state page](/bridges/montana) or the [Montana report card](/reports/montana). You can also explore how Montana compares to other states in our [state rankings](/blog/best-bridge-infrastructure-by-state-2025).

Data source: All data comes from the National Bridge Inventory maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). BridgeStats is not affiliated with the U.S. government. Data is provided for informational purposes only.