Founder, Montana Bridge Company
James York - Bridge Designer & Innovator
Experience & Expertise
Founder & CEO, York Bridge Concepts (1985–2022)
Founder & CEO, Montana Bridge Company
35+ years in timber bridge design, engineering, and construction
8,000+ bridges completed across four continents
Nationwide and international project leadership
Commercial real estate developer and long-term asset manager
Extensive experience in design-build delivery, permitting, and infrastructure coordination
A Legacy Continued
After decades of industry leadership, Montana Bridge Company represents a return to what matters most—craftsmanship, relationships, and building structures that last for generations.
And if you find him on a job site today, chances are he’s still doing what he’s always done—looking at the land, studying the details, and thinking about how to make the next bridge even better.
James York
Founder, Montana Bridge Company
James York didn’t set out to build an industry. He set out to build a better bridge.
In 1985, timber bridges weren’t exactly in demand. Most projects defaulted to steel and concrete, and wood was often overlooked. But James saw something others didn’t—the strength, the sustainability, and the natural beauty of timber when it’s done right.
So he got to work.
What started as a hands-on effort to design and build better structures grew steadily over time. Project by project, client by client, he built a reputation for solving complex challenges in ways that respected both the land and the people using it.
That work eventually became York Bridge Concepts, a company that would grow into the largest timber bridge design-build firm in the United States.
Over the next several decades, James led the design, engineering, and construction of more than 8,000 timber bridges across four continents—spanning everything from private ranch crossings and golf courses to municipal trails and commercial developments. His projects required close coordination with engineers, developers, municipalities, and regulatory agencies, often navigating complex permitting, environmental considerations, and site constraints.
Not bad for a material many had written off.
But if you ask him, he’ll tell you it was never about scale.
It was about solving problems in the field. Figuring out how to span a creek without disturbing the surrounding terrain. Designing structures that didn’t just meet engineering standards, but actually belonged in their environment. And building bridges that would still be standing—and still be appreciated—decades later.
Along the way, James also expanded into commercial real estate development, founding and managing multiple companies focused on acquiring, developing, and operating income-producing properties in Florida and Montana. From site selection and planning to construction oversight and long-term asset management, he built a parallel track record grounded in the same principles: durability, efficiency, and long-term value.
After nearly 40 years leading the industry, he stepped away.
For a while.
Because it turns out, building bridges isn’t something you just stop doing.
Montana Bridge Company is his return—not to scale, but to craft. A more focused, boutique firm where he can be directly involved again. Where projects are selected with intention, relationships matter, and the work reflects the same standards that built his reputation in the first place.
Today, James leads Montana Bridge Company with a hands-on approach—working alongside a team of experienced designers, engineers, and builders to deliver custom timber bridges across the United States.
He’s still solving the same problems he started with—just with a few thousand bridges’ worth of experience behind him.
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