Boy Scout Bridge in Seeley Lake

Posted on August 01, 2026

Due to structural concerns, the Boy Scout Bridge on the southwestern side of Seeley Lake was permanently closed on Nov. 15, 2023. Missoula County Public Works closed the bridge following a Montana Department of Transportation inspection demonstrating the bridge could no longer carry traffic safely or reliably. 

The complete closure comes on the heels of a 3-ton weight limit Public Works placed on the bridge in August following a routine MDT inspection showing deterioration of the timber piling foundation that could affect the bridge’s load capacity.

This closure has severely impacted emergency response times, which have increased by up to 45 minutes. In addition, the rural residents in Seeley Lake depend on these bridges to connect them to vital services and to provide adequate wildfire response and safe evacuation routes.

What's wrong with the bridge?

Public Works staff completed a preliminary engineering report in 2024 to determine the scope and cost for replacing the bridge, which was built in 1937. The report states that while the bridge deck (the part you drive on) is in good condition, the substructure holding it up is in poor condition (with a sufficiency rating of 39 out of 100). Of the 88 timber piles (the beams in the water), six are in severe condition due to extensive rot and decay. An additional 44 piles are in poor condition due to decay and loss.

Why can't it be patched and re-opened instead of fully replaced?

Full replacement is recommended over just the individual replacement of the piles. Timber pile repairs are typically short-term repairs and are not intended to extend the life of the bridge by more than a few years. Since this bridge is a significant connection point, a short-term fix would only delay the issue of eventual replacement.

How much would it cost to fix it?

The cost to repair and/or replace the 50 deficient piles is about $1.25 million. This would serve as a temporary fix and expand the life of the bridge for another three to five years. Eventually the whole bridge will need to be replaced, which is estimated to cost $9 million to $12 million, which is more than the County can fund on its own.

What types of funding has Missoula County tried to find to fix this bridge?

Missoula County has applied for multiple federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, including Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program (PROTECT) grants in 2025, as well as Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) and Bridge Improvement Program (BIP) grants in 2024.

In 2026, the County has applied for federal Bridge Investment Program grant and has requested a congressional appropriation from Senator Tim Sheehy. The County is also applying for a 2026 PROTECT grant. Letters from residents and local businesses affected by this closure are extremely helpful in making these grants more competitive.

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