County profile · official public datasets

Essex County, MA

395 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 15.9% rated Good, 66.8% Fair, 17.2% Poor.

395
Public bridges
15.9%
Good condition
17.2%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Essex County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

13th
of 13 on Poor share
17.2%
Poor-condition share
395
public highway bridges
1957
avg year built

Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.

Essex County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Essex County ranks #13 of 13 Massachusetts counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 17.2%). Essex County, Massachusetts contains 395 public highway bridges. Roughly 15.9% are rated “Good,” 66.8% “Fair,” and 17.2% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.

Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.

Total bridges

395

Public highway bridges in Essex County

Good condition

15.9%

63 of 395 rated 7-9

Fair condition

66.8%

264 of 395 rated 5-6

Poor condition

17.2%

68 of 395 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#13 of 13

Among Massachusetts counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 395 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
15.9% (63)
Fair
66.8% (264)
Poor
17.2% (68)

Essex County's Poor-condition bridges carry 2,590,672 vehicle crossings a day

That is 21.8% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 17.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry more traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 38,098 crossings a day against 20,809 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.

Computed over the 394 of 395 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

73.4% of Essex County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

289 of the 394 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 15.9% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.

Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

One structure carries 5% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

US 1 NEWBRPRT TPK over I 95 /ST128, built 1963, carries 128,520 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 68-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 2,590,672 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Essex County's bridges were built

394 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 95 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 24.1% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1957) matches the Massachusetts average (1961).

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Essex County compares with Massachusetts's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Massachusetts counties nearest Essex County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 17.2% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1957 against a peer-group mean of 1961 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 12 Massachusetts counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Essex County and the 5 Massachusetts counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Berkshire County 450 7.8%
Hampden County 428 7.5%
Essex County (this page) 395 17.2%
Bristol County 384 6.5%
Norfolk County 343 5%
Franklin County 314 11.1%

Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Essex County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year

Two NBI-derived peer sets for Essex County, both outside Massachusetts so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside MA (395 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside MA (1957 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All 395 Good 63 Fair 264 Poor 68

Good-condition bridges (63)

ST133 HAVERHILL ST

Good

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

.1 MI N ST 28, Essex, MA

Built 1921 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 15,300

ST128

Good

Over: WATER WATERS RIVER

0.4 MI N OF ST-114, Essex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 80,652

ST133 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER ESSEX RIVER

.1 MI E ESSEX CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,620

HWY THURLOW ST

Good

Over: WATER PARKER RIVER

0.2 MI EAST MULBERRY ST, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,154

I 495 NB

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 118,146

I 495 SB

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 59,925

I 93

Good

Over: ST110 /ST113/LOWELL ST

.9 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 112,881

HWY ENDICOTT ST

Good

Over: WATER PROCTOR BROOK

500 N OF LOWELL ST, Essex, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,600

HWY LARKIN RD

Good

Over: WATER PARKER RIVER

0.48 KM E OF I 95, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 300

HWY NEWMAN RD

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

1.2MI E OF RT.1, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 400

I 95 SB

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 57,000

I 95 NB

Good

Over: HWY EVANS PLACE

1/8 M N. OF WHITTIER BRDG, Essex, MA

Built 2018 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 37,200

HWY WETHERSFIELD

Good

Over: WATER BACHELDER BROOK

0.2 MILES FROM RT1., Essex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 1,200

HWY WETHERSFIELD

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.6 MILES FROM RT1., Essex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 36.1 t ADT: 1,200

HWY HAMILTON ST

Good

Over: WATER SAUGUS RIVER

AT SAUGUS RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 9,786

I 95 SB

Good

Over: HWY EVANS PLACE

1/8 MI N OF WHITTIER BRGE, Essex, MA

Built 2018 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 37,200

HWY HOWLEY ST

Good

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

SW OF HRMONYGROVE CEMETRY, Essex, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 5,300

HWY MARSTN ST NB

Good

Over: I 495 RAMPS A & K

.25 MI. S. COMMONWEALTH D, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 3,600

ST 28 BROADWAY

Good

Over: ST213

.6 MILE E OF I 93, Essex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 38,147

HWY NEWTON RD

Good

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

AT TREATMENT PLANT, Essex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 1,939

HWY CLINTON ST

Good

Over: WATER BACK RIVER

2.4 K WEST OF I 95, Essex, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,500

I 95

Good

Over: TR AMESBURY RIVERWALK

1 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 67,816

I 95 NE RAMP

Good

Over: TR AMESBURY RIVERWALK

1 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,960

HWY PINE HILL RO

Good

Over: I 95

AT PINE HILL RD, Essex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,900

HWY NEWTON RD

Good

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

JUST SOUTH OF NH LINE, Essex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 1,163

HWY CONGRESS ST

Good

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

AT SOUTH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1917 Load: 43.0 t ADT: 12,900

HWY ASBURY ST

Good

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

SOUTH IPSWICH ROAD, Essex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 43.3 t ADT: 6,190

HWY MARSTN ST NB

Good

Over: I 495 RAMP J

1/2 MI. S. OF CMMNWLTH DR, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 4,500

HWY HAY ST

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

1 MI. SW OF RT. 1A, Essex, MA

Built 2007 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 400

HWY E BROADWAY

Good

Over: WATER MILLVALE BROOK

X OF MILLVALE ROAD, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,500

HWY CANAL ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

0.1 6 KM WEST OF MARSTON, Essex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 18,750

HWY HAMPSHIRE ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

0.3 MI N OF ST-110, Essex, MA

Built 2010 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 7,700

HWY BENNINGTN ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.32 KM WEST ST 110, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 6,500

HWY ACCESS RD

Good

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

NATIONAL AV 0.5 KM SOUTH, Essex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 1,900

ST 97 /ST113/LNCLN

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 17,246

HWY BOSTON ST

Good

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

AT PEABODY LINE, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 16,200

HWY MILL ROAD

Good

Over: WATER FISH BROOK

1.1 MI W OF I-95, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 1,200

HWY THOMPSON ST

Good

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

1.2MI N OF RT.495, Essex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 387

I 495

Good

Over: WATER FISH BROOK

.48 KM S I93, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 51.3 t ADT: 120,800

HWY MOULTON ST

Good

Over: WATER MILES RIVER

.4K E. OF ST 1A, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 52.3 t ADT: 1,293

HWY UPR CNTY BRI

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT WSHGTN &RIVER STS, Essex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 52.5 t ADT: 10,665

HWY ACCESS RD

Good

Over: WATER NORTH CANAL

1.6 KM FROM N ANDOVER, Essex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 259

ST 1 A/HIGH ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

1.1 MI N IPSWICH CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 25,200

HWY HIGH PLN RD

Good

Over: I 93

.3 MILES S.OF I495, Essex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 3,232

ST128

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR (ABANDON

2 KM NORTH OF ST114, Essex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 66,000

ST107 SALEM TNPK

Good

Over: WATER E BR PINES RIVER

1.5 KM NE OF RTE 60, Essex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 34,397

ST127 A/THATCHER

Good

Over: WATER GOOD HRBR BCH CRK

JUST N OF BASS AVE, Essex, MA

Built 2007 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 12,931

HWY MARCH ST

Good

Over: COMB US 1A BYPASS & MBT

.1MI W ST 1A, Essex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 259

HWY JHNSN ST EXT

Good

Over: RR MBTA (ABANDONED)

.1 MI S PINE STREET, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 300

HWY JOHNSON ST

Good

Over: OTHER PED BIKE PATH

.1 MI N PINE STREET, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 6,700

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

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Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.