BUFFALO BRIDGE RD
over FLATHEAD RIVER 084
10M W POLSON, Lake County, Montana
Condition
GoodYear Built
1993
Daily Traffic
100
Length
53 ft
About This Bridge
BUFFALO BRIDGE RD carries traffic over FLATHEAD RIVER 084 in Lake County, Montana. Built in 1993, this structure is 33 years old, built during a period of significant highway expansion. The bridge features steel continuous construction with a stringer/multi-beam or girder design, a combination chosen by engineers to meet the specific requirements of this crossing.
Approximately 100 vehicles cross this bridge daily, indicating lower traffic volumes common for local roads and rural routes. While traffic is lighter, these bridges still serve essential community transportation needs. Commercial trucks account for 3% of all crossings. This proportion of commercial traffic is typical for this roadway classification and is factored into the bridge's design load ratings.
The bridge is currently rated in good condition based on federal inspection criteria established by the Federal Highway Administration. The structure meets current safety standards for its designated use and load capacity. With a total length of 53 feet, this is a shorter span typical of local road crossings, often carrying traffic over small streams, drainage channels, or other roadways.
The construction materials used in this bridge were selected based on engineering requirements, cost considerations, and local conditions at the time of construction.
Federal law requires that all highway bridges be inspected at least every 24 months by qualified inspectors following the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Some bridges with known issues or unusual characteristics may be inspected more frequently. Inspection data is reported to the National Bridge Inventory, a database maintained by the Federal Highway Administration that tracks the condition of all public highway bridges in the United States. This bridge data is sourced from that federal database and reflects the most recent available inspection results.
Condition Ratings
Deck Condition
Good
Superstructure
Good
Substructure
Good
Channel & Protection
Good
Lowest Rating
Determines condition category
NBI condition ratings range from 0 (failed) to 9 (excellent). Ratings of 4 or below are considered poor. The overall condition category is determined by the lowest individual component rating.
With a lowest rating of 7, this bridge demonstrates good condition meeting all safety standards.
For a structure built in 1993, maintaining good condition demonstrates effective maintenance practices. If this bridge were closed, traffic would face a detour of approximately 55 miles, underscoring the importance of maintaining this crossing.
Bridge Details
Steel Continuous is the primary structural material, which influences maintenance requirements and expected lifespan. The stringer/multi-beam or girder design was selected based on span requirements, load capacity needs, and site conditions at the time of construction. Maintenance responsibility falls to County Highway Agency.
Construction
Dimensions
Span dimensions affect structural design choices and load distribution. The deck area of 901 sq ft determines surface maintenance scope.
Classification
Status
Traffic Data
Traffic volume data helps engineers assess bridge wear patterns and plan maintenance schedules. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts are updated periodically and represent typical weekday usage.
100
Avg Daily Traffic (2024)
Vehicles per day crossing this bridge
3%
Truck Traffic
Commercial vehicle percentage
100
Projected Future ADT
Estimated future demand
This bridge carries approximately 100 vehicles per day, translating to roughly 36,500 crossings annually. Lower traffic volumes generally result in less structural wear over time.
Commercial trucks comprise 3% of traffic. Heavy vehicles cause disproportionate wear—a single fully loaded truck can have the impact of thousands of passenger cars on bridge deck surfaces.
Traffic projections estimate future volumes of 100 vehicles daily, a decrease from current levels. These projections inform capacity planning and potential upgrade requirements.
Load Ratings
Load ratings determine what weight this bridge can safely support. These values are critical for routing heavy vehicles and issuing overweight permits.
Operating Rating
3.7 tons
Maximum allowable load for special permits
Inventory Rating
2.2 tons
Load level for normal traffic
The operating rating of 3.7 tons represents the absolute maximum load this bridge can carry under controlled conditions with special permits. The inventory rating of 2.2 tons is the safe load limit for everyday traffic without restrictions. These relatively low ratings may result in posted weight limits or route restrictions for heavy vehicles.
5-Year Condition Trend
↓DecliningCondition has declined by 1.0 rating points since 2020
Data: 2020-2024 FHWA National Bridge Inventory
Location
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49.171667, -115.592222
Identification
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Data Source: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory 2024
Bridge inspection data is typically updated every 24 months. Conditions may have changed since the last inspection.
“Structurally deficient” does not mean a bridge is unsafe or likely to collapse. It indicates that one or more key structural elements are in poor or worse condition. Bridges are inspected regularly and may have load restrictions in place.
This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used for route clearance or vehicle weight decisions.