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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COTTONWOOD CREEK 083 | Montana | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 507 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK 044 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 82 |
| SNELL CREEK 073 | Montana | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 100 |
| E GALLATIN RIVER 076 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 100 |
| BR MAIN CANAL 035 | Montana | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 80 |
| RESERVATION CREEK 036 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 25 |
| GRAVEYARD CREEK 055 | Montana | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 128 |
| SMITH CREEK 053 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 638 |
| CLARK FORK RIVER 001 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 100 |
| BIG DITCH 010 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 828 |
| COVE DITCH 011 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 828 |
| COVE DITCH 012 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 828 |
| HENSLEY CREEK 014 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,617 |
| COVE DITCH 015 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,617 |
| ALLEN CREEK 016 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,617 |
| VALLEY CREEK 019 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,617 |
| LOWER DEER CREEK 006 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 344 |
| CUSTER COULEE 171 | Montana | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,775 |
| APPISTOKI CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 183 |
| MILES CREEK 037 | Montana | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 507 |
| MACKS CREEK 038 | Montana | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 507 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK 072 | Montana | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 100 |
| BEAVER CREEK 030 | Montana | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 100 |
| MISSION CREEK 052 | Montana | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 2,233 |
| MRL SPUR (NOT IN USE) | Montana | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,075 |
| DRY CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 204 |
| PIPESTONE CREEK | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| BEAVERHEAD RIVER 071 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 54 |
| BIGHORN CANAL 018 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| THIRTY MILE CREEK 127 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| MILK RIVER 078 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| RED LODGE CREEK 042 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| SHONKIN CREEK 016 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| N FK BURNS CREEK 062 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| OTTER CREEK 036 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| JOCKO RIVER 013 | Montana | Good | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| DAYTON CREEK 105 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| BOX ELDER CREEK 008 | Montana | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| DODSON NORTH CANAL 005 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| EXETER CREEK 004 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| POWELL CREEK 063 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 916 |
| DEMPSEY CREEK 059 | Montana | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 916 |
| RACETRACK CREEK 067 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 916 |
| WILLIAMS COULEE 007 | Montana | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 507 |
| CONN`S COULEE 021 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 507 |
| DRAINAGE 022 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 507 |
| MUSSELSHELL RIVER 001 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| SWEENEY CREEK 064 | Montana | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 128 |
| TETON RIVER 051 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| HAY COULEE 006 | Montana | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 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.