Montana’s 2,000 off-system bridges, managed by local agencies, face critical challenges. While the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) oversees inspections, local agencies are responsible for repairing and replacing those off-system structures. However, about 400 of those bridges are under load restrictions – and over 100 of them essential to community travel, emergency services, and agricultural transport needs. And localities lacked funding to repair and replace those bridges. MDT’s $1.5 million Off-System Bridge Study and Implementation Plan prioritizes repairs, replacements, and future funding mechanisms. This initiative ensures public safety and community resilience by guiding transportation investments across Montana. The plan has already prioritized 44 bridges in 22 counties for repair/replacement; paving the way for infrastructure improvements through competitive grants. To support MDT’s off-system bridge program, Montana’s legislature approved a new measure that allocates funds for reconstructing and fixing local bridges. Priority is given to bridges in Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities when choosing which bridges to repair using the funds from this law.
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