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.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOSTON CANAL | Montana | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 422 |
| CROW CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 206 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 224 |
| BOULDER CR | Montana | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,889 |
| HOLLAND CREEK 051 | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| YELLOWSTONE RIVER 004 | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,471 |
| IRRIGATION CANAL 031 | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| MUSSELSHELL RIVER 009 | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| YELLOWSTONE RIVER 170 | Montana | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 4,005 |
| BITTERROOT RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,979 |
| JEFFERSON RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,515 |
| CLEARWATER RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,044 |
| DEARBORN RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,432 |
| STOCKPASS | Montana | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 1,432 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,671 |
| TONGUE RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,126 |
| STONE CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,403 |
| BEAVERHEAD RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,403 |
| BEAVERHEAD RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,865 |
| CHIMNEY ROCK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 235 |
| FLAT CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 235 |
| TRIBUTARY FLAT CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 235 |
| ARROW CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 171 |
| DRY WOLF CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 265 |
| WARM SPRING CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 377 |
| RR | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,416 |
| GALLATIN RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,038 |
| JOCKO RIVER | Montana | Good | 1949 | 77 | 934 |
| FARMER`S COULEE | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 169 |
| BIG MUDDY CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 151 |
| BIG MUDDY CREEK OVERFLOW | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 151 |
| CLARK FORK RIVER | Montana | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2,330 |
| LITTLE PRICKLY PEAR CR | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 501 |
| CANYON CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 501 |
| CANYON CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 501 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 133 |
| MUSSELSHELL RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 247 |
| PASS CREEK | Montana | Good | 1949 | 77 | 299 |
| PASS CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 299 |
| Canyon Ferry Spillway | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 600 |
| BOULDER RIVER | Montana | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 157 |
| BIG HOLE RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| COAL CR | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| TELEGRAPH CREEK | Montana | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| TROUT CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| TWO MEDICINE RIVER | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 183 |
| TWO LEGGIN`S CANAL 005 | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| UNNAMED CREEK 059 | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| GREENFIELD S CANAL 065 | Montana | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
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.