MDT’s Bridge Management and Design Process
The MDT Bridge Bureau is tasked with keeping Montana's bridges safe, resilient, economical, and reliable. The Bridge Bureau is organized into two sections: Bridge Management and Bridge Design.
The Bridge Management section inspects and maintains over 4,500 bridges throughout the state and guides maintenance for state, county, and city bridges. The Bridge Management section is responsible for conducting all inspections and evaluating needed repairs. Routine inspections are performed every two years. In-depth inspections occur on specific and critical bridge components as needed to ensure that the most important components of the bridge are in good working condition.
The Bridge Design section provides design and engineering management on bridge replacement, rehabilitation, and preservation projects. They also establish and maintain design criteria and standards, participate in research projects, and promote design initiatives to improve bridge performance and value.
A routine inspection by the MDT Bridge Bureau determined that the I-90 eastbound Clark Fork Bridge located 5 miles east of Alberton had deteriorated to the point that maintenance was no longer practical and significant rehabilitation was necessary.