Ruby Rd over Cottonwood CR
Madison County, Montana · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Ruby Rd over Cottonwood CR in Madison County, Montana, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the substructure, rated 4 (poor condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1954, making it 71 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 50 vehicles a day.
- It is one of 7 of the 98 inventoried bridges in Madison County rated poor (7.1%); 7 (7.1%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (poor), but component ratings moved: superstructure 6 to 7.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated August 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A poor rating means at least one major component - deck, superstructure, or substructure - is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale. It does not by itself mean the bridge is unsafe; bridges judged unsafe are closed or load-restricted by their owners.
View this bridge on a map → (44.90744, -111.99979)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Timber stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 30 ft |
| Location | Cottonwood CR |
| NBI structure number | 010206000000064 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 4: foundations stable, field review says exposed foundations need protection |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Montana department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Madison County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 287 over O`dell Creek | 2001 | 4,500 | Fair |
| US 287 over Madison River Overflow | 2001 | 4,500 | Good |
| US 287 over Madison River Overflow | 2001 | 4,500 | Good |
| US 287 over Madison River Overflow | 2001 | 4,500 | Good |
| US 287 over Madison River | 2001 | 4,500 | Fair |
| US 287 over South Willow Creek | 1934 | 4,102 | Poor |
All bridges nearby: Madison County, MT bridge conditions · every bridge in Madison County · Montana bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.