The document summarizes bridge data from Montana's 2014 National Bridge Inventory. It finds that 8% of Montana's 5,251 bridges, or 400 bridges, are structurally deficient. 10% of bridges, or 514 bridges, are functionally obsolete. The state estimates it would cost $3.1 billion to repair 797 deficient bridges. The top 10 most traveled structurally deficient bridges are listed, with locations and daily crossings provided.

1. © 2015 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Highlights from FHWA’s 2014 National Bridge Inventory Data:
 Of the 5,251 bridges in the state, 400 bridges, or 8% are classified as structurally deficient. This
means one or more of the key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure or
substructure, is considered to be in “poor” or worse condition.1
 There are 514 bridges, or 10% of all state bridges, classified as functionally obsolete. This means
the bridge does not meet design standards that are in line with current practice.
 State and local contract awards for bridge construction totaled $334.35 million over the past
five years, 20 percent of highway and bridge contract awards, compared to a national average of
29 percent.
 Since 2004, 478 new bridges have been constructed in the state and 104 bridges have
undergone major reconstruction.
 The state estimates that it would cost approximately $3.1 billion to fix a total of 797 bridges in
the state.2
Bridge Inventory:
All Bridges Structurally deficient Bridges
Type of Bridge
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Rural Bridges
Interstate 747 593,250 4,891,210 35 58,053 232,990
Other principal arterial 480 255,120 1,551,710 17 13,156 47,010
Minor arterial 523 219,490 562,727 25 16,682 33,972
Major collector 579 206,813 479,249 14 4,202 14,315
Minor collector 500 107,719 70,889 39 8,933 3,988
Local 2,142 342,425 189,751 259 38,599 25,987
Urban Bridges
Interstate 84 73,651 1,382,490 1 452 4,960
Other freeway 0 0 0 0 0 0
Principal arterial 55 117,478 1,037,170 2 4,830 44,810
Minor arterial 43 39,354 299,480 3 8,074 42,840
Collector 32 15,202 36,933 1 425 4,200
Rural 66 14,052 10,682 4 382 400
Total 5,251 1,984,553 10,512,291 400 153,787 455,472
1
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a bridge is classified as structurally deficient if the condition rating for the deck,
superstructure, substructure or culvert and retaining walls is rated 4 or below or if the bridge receives an appraisal rating of 2 or less for
structural condition or waterway adequacy. During inspections, the condition of a variety of bridge elements are rated on a scale of 0 (failed
condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is considered “poor” condition and the individual element displays signs of advanced section
loss, deterioration, spalling or scour.
2
This data is provided by bridge owners as part of the FHWA data and is required for any bridge eligible for the Highway Bridge Replacement
and Rehabilitation Program. However, for some states this amount is very low and likely not an accurate reflection of current costs.
State Bridge Profile
Montana

2. © 2015 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Proposed bridge work:
Type of Work Number Cost (millions) Daily Crossings Area (sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 619 $2,761.9 1,625,370 271,570
Widening & rehabilitation 4 $1.2 205 473
Rehabilitation 114 $181.7 181,025 38,967
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 6 $0.0 279 267
Other work 54 $124.8 17,544 13,310
Top 10 Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in the State:
County
Year
Built
Daily
Crossings
Type of Bridge Location
Missoula 1957 22,650 Urban other
principal arterial Russell Street and other city streets over the Clark Fork River
Missoula 1958 22,160 Urban other
principal arterial US-12 over the Clark Fork River
Gallatin 1966 18,410 Urban minor
arterial city streets over I-90
Missoula 1962 15,940 Urban minor
arterial
Higgins Avenue and other city streets over the Clark Fork River
and city street (Higgins Avenue Bridge)
Flathead 1975 10,260 Rural arterial SR 40 over the Whitefish River
Missoula 1963 10,230 Rural Interstate I-90 over Montana Rail Link
Missoula 1963 10,230 Rural Interstate I-90 over Montana Rail Link
Stillwater 1970 9,800 Rural Interstate I-90 over Hensley Creek and a country road
Stillwater 1971 9,800 Rural Interstate I-90 over Keyser Creek
Stillwater 1970 9,800 Rural Interstate I-90 over Hensley Creek and a country road
Sources: All data is from the 2014 National Bridge Inventory, released by the Federal Highway Administration in January 2015.
Note that specific conditions on bridge may have changed as a result of recent work. Cost estimates of bridge work provided as
part of the data and have been adjusted to 2014$ for inflation and estimated project costs. Contract awards data is for state
and local government awards and comes from McGraw Hill. Note that additional bridge investment may be a part of other
contract awards if a smaller bridge project is included with a highway project, and that would not be accounted for in the total
in this profile.