New Report: Montana Needs To ‘Fix This Or People Will Die’

BUTTE, MT - Montana’s vast landscapes are crossed by over 5,000 bridges, vital lifelines connecting communities, supporting commerce, and carrying travelers over rivers, ravines, and valleys.

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However, a recent infrastructure report has painted a grim picture of these crucial structures: Montana's bridges have been given a C- grade, signaling mediocrity at best and danger at worst.

This assessment is not just a statistic—it’s a warning sign for every Montanan who relies on these pathways daily.

What does this grade truly mean, and how did we get here? Let’s break down the facts.

The Report: A Stark Reality Check

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its infrastructure report card, and Montana’s bridges dropped to a concerning C-.

This decline reflects increasing wear and tear, a lack of sufficient funding for repairs, and the challenges posed by extreme weather events.

Over 11% of Montana’s bridges are classified as structurally deficient, meaning they require critical maintenance or could become unsafe. Many of these structures date back to the mid-20th century and were not designed to handle the current levels of traffic or weight loads.

The report calls for an urgent increase in investment to prevent further deterioration, yet funding remains limited, leaving these vital structures in a precarious state.

How Montana Stands Compared to the Nation

Nationally, the average grade for bridges is C+, placing Montana behind much of the country.

While neighboring states like Wyoming and North Dakota have also faced challenges, Montana's reliance on federal aid complicates its ability to address issues quickly.

Tourism and agriculture, two cornerstones of Montana’s economy, are especially vulnerable. Bridges that are unable to support heavy loads, like agricultural equipment or semi-trucks, slow down commerce and increase costs for businesses. For tourists, closed or load-restricted bridges lead to frustrating detours and tarnish the state’s image as a destination.

The Human Cost of Neglect

Beyond the economic impacts, the human toll of failing infrastructure cannot be ignored.

Structurally deficient bridges pose serious safety hazards, and history has shown us the catastrophic consequences of ignoring such warnings.

In 2022, a bridge collapse in Pittsburgh injured several people and underscored the danger of delayed repairs. While Montana has not yet faced such a tragedy, experts warn that the risk is growing. Even minor accidents on structurally deficient bridges can lead to injuries, fatalities, and significant delays in emergency response times.

For rural communities, where alternative routes are often non-existent, a single bridge failure could isolate entire towns, delaying critical services like medical care, fire response, and supply deliveries.

A Call for Action: What Needs to Happen

The ASCE report is clear: Montana must act now. The state needs to prioritize funding for bridge inspections, repairs, and replacements. Here’s what experts recommend:

• Increased State Investment: Relying on federal funds alone will not suffice. Montana must allocate a larger portion of its budget to infrastructure maintenance.
• Public Awareness: Citizens need to understand the gravity of the situation to advocate for change.
• Innovative Solutions: Public-private partnerships and modern engineering techniques could accelerate repairs and reduce costs.
• Emergency Planning: Contingency plans must be developed for communities at risk of isolation due to bridge failures.

Without immediate action, the cost of repairs will only rise, and so will the potential for disaster.

Montana’s bridges are more than just physical structures; they are lifelines that sustain the state’s economy, connect its communities, and ensure public safety. A C- grade is not just a mark of mediocrity—it’s a call to arms.

If action isn’t taken, the consequences could be devastating. Every Montanan who drives to work, visits a loved one, or hauls goods across the state is relying on these aging bridges to hold strong. But how much longer can they bear the weight?

It’s time for Montana to prioritize its infrastructure, or risk watching it crumble beneath us.