Historic Bridges in Montana

662 bridges built before 1951 in Montana still in service today.

Bridges Built Before 1951

The United States has 662 bridges in Montana built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
HARDSCRABBLE CREEK 041 Montana Poor 1945 81 100
BEAVERHEAD RIVER Montana Fair 1945 81 612
STILLWATER RIVER Montana Fair 1945 81 598
LOLO CREEK Montana Fair 1946 80 50
RR Montana Good 1946 80 6,326
BEAVERHEAD RIVER 033 Montana Poor 1946 80 2,676
BIG HORN CANAL 009 Montana Poor 1946 80 63
RR 001 Montana Fair 1946 80 525
MINER CR Montana Fair 1947 79 50
MIDDLE FK RUBY RIVE Montana Fair 1947 79 50
BURNT CR Montana Fair 1947 79 50
W FK MADISON RIVER Montana Poor 1947 79 50
DALY CR Montana Fair 1947 79 45
E F BITTERROOT Montana Good 1947 79 10
E F BITTERROOT Montana Fair 1947 79 50
BOULDER RIVER Montana Poor 1947 79 1
NINEMILE SLIDE 026 Montana Poor 1947 79 141
LITTLE POWDER RIVER 028 Montana Fair 1947 79 107
E FORK BITTERROOT R 009 Montana Fair 1947 79 309
SEVEN MILE CREEK 168 Montana Fair 1947 79 7,544
TWELVE MILE CREEK 169 Montana Fair 1947 79 4,005
MUGGINS CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 241
DRAINAGE Montana Fair 1947 79 222
DRAINAGE Montana Poor 1947 79 222
DRY WASH Montana Fair 1947 79 222
DRAINAGE Montana Fair 1947 79 222
BLACKFOOT RIVER Montana Fair 1947 79 3,932
RYE CREEK Montana Poor 1947 79 661
SWEET GRASS CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 661
CAYUSE CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 661
BBWA CANAL Montana Fair 1947 79 6,888
LITTLE WARM CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 395
S FORK WAYNE CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 61
WAYNE CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 61
E FORK WAYNE CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 61
N FORK WAYNE CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 61
W SAVOY CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 61
CEDAR CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 368
NEVADA CREEK Montana Fair 1947 79 308
STORMCASTLE CREEK Montana Fair 1948 78 50
O`FALLON CREEK 043 Montana Fair 1948 78 507
FIFTEEN MILE CREEK Montana Fair 1948 78 1,943
FORK OF BEAVER CREEK Montana Fair 1948 78 395
MADISON RIVER Montana Fair 1948 78 1,501
YELLOW WATER CR-ELK CR Montana Poor 1948 78 233
W FK POPLAR RV OVERFLOW Montana Fair 1948 78 194
W FORK POPLAR RIVER Montana Fair 1948 78 194
W FK POPLAR RV OVERFLOW Montana Fair 1948 78 194
MARTIN COULEE Montana Fair 1948 78 194
DRAINAGE Montana Fair 1948 78 145

About Historic Bridge Data

Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.