Total bridges
395
Public highway bridges in Essex County
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.
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
- pre-1900 30
Built before 1900
30 bridges
- 1900s 12
1900–1909
12 bridges
- 1910s 10
1910–1919
10 bridges
- 1920s 17
1920–1929
17 bridges
- 1930s 20
1930–1939
20 bridges
- 1940s 26
1940–1949
26 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
58 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
95 bridges
- 1970s 37
1970–1979
37 bridges
- 1980s 14
1980–1989
14 bridges
- 1990s 15
1990–1999
15 bridges
- 2000s 34
2000–2009
34 bridges
- 2010s 22
2010–2019
22 bridges
- 2020s 4
2020–2029
4 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).
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.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire County | 450 | 34.7% | 57.6% | 7.8% | 1961 |
| Hampden County | 428 | 17.1% | 75.5% | 7.5% | 1956 |
| Essex County (this page) | 395 | 15.9% | 66.8% | 17.2% | 1957 |
| Bristol County | 384 | 30.2% | 63.3% | 6.5% | 1962 |
| Norfolk County | 343 | 23.6% | 71.4% | 5% | 1962 |
| Franklin County | 314 | 34.4% | 54.5% | 11.1% | 1964 |
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).
- Creek County, OK · 395 bridges
- Humboldt County, CA · 396 bridges
- Nodaway County, MO · 396 bridges
- Gage County, NE · 394 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MA (1957 here).
- Labette County, KS · avg 1957 · 349 bridges
- Greenwood County, KS · avg 1957 · 235 bridges
- Greer County, OK · avg 1957 · 230 bridges
- Lincoln County, KS · avg 1957 · 225 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (395)
HWY CENTRE ST
FairOver: I 95
1 MILE SOUTH ST 62, Essex, MA
Built 1969 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 28,600
ST110 /ST113/RIVER
FairOver: I 495
.6 KM N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1964 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 19,876
ST128 NB
FairOver: HWY PINE ST
.8 MI N MANCHESTER TOWN H, Essex, MA
Built 1953 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 21,218
ST128 SB
FairOver: HWY PINE ST
.8 MI N MANCHESTER TOWN H, Essex, MA
Built 1953 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 19,500
HWY BROAD ST
FairOver: I 495
BETWEEN EMERY & LUCUST ST, Essex, MA
Built 1964 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 6,000
I 93 NB
FairOver: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER
2.5 MI S OF ST-133, Essex, MA
Built 1958 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 74,084
I 93 SB
FairOver: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER
2.5 MI SOUTH OF RT 133, Essex, MA
Built 1958 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 77,340
I 495 NB
FairOver: HWY HAGGETTS POND RD
AT I-495, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 60,500
I 495 NB
FairOver: HWY COMMONWEALTH DR
.4 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1962 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 62,100
I 495 NB
FairOver: ST150
AT EXIT 54, Essex, MA
Built 1967 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 31,856
I 495 SB
FairOver: ST108 NEWTON RD
.7 MI S ST110, Essex, MA
Built 1964 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 65,000
ST125 MAIN ST
FairOver: COMB I 495 & SNOWS BRK
7.8 KM N ST110, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 26,548
HWY ANDOVER ST
FairOver: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER
1 MI NE TEWKSBURY, Essex, MA
Built 1900 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 4,691
US 1 NB/NEWBRY ST
FairOver: I 95
.5 MI N OF ST-62, Essex, MA
Built 1972 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 24,200
ST127 A/THATCHER
FairOver: WATER MARSH CREEK
JUST N OF LONG BEACH, Essex, MA
Built 1921 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 10,800
ST128
FairOver: COMB MBTA & TOZER RD
0.3 MI E OF ST-97/1A, Essex, MA
Built 1948 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 72,449
HWY HILLDALE AVE
FairOver: I 495 NB
2.4 KM N ST 110, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 6,500
HWY CHANDLER RD
FairOver: I 495 NB
GREENWOOD AT I-495, Essex, MA
Built 1962 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 8,800
I 93
FairOver: ST213 WB
2.3 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1959 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 120,514
HWY GREENWOOD RD
FairOver: I 495 NB
GREENWOOD AT I-495, Essex, MA
Built 1962 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,700
I 95 SB CONN TOLL
FairOver: I 95
.6 MI S OF NH STATE LINE, Essex, MA
Built 1967 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,200
ST113 LOWLL & OSGD
FairOver: TR METHUEN RAILTRAIL
.32 KM W ST28, Essex, MA
Built 1983 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 28,000
HWY HALE ST
FairOver: I 95
1 MI S OF ST-113, Essex, MA
Built 1976 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 5,650
HWY PLM ISLN TPK
FairOver: WATER PLUM ISLAND RIVER
.75 MI WEST ATLANTIC OCN, Essex, MA
Built 1973 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 8,984
HWY CORBETT ST
FairOver: I 495
2 MI N I93, Essex, MA
Built 1962 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 2,600
I 93
FairOver: ST213 EB
2 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1959 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 120,514
ST 97 BROADWAY
FairOver: I 495 SB
1.1 KM N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 48,897
ST107 WESTERN AVE
FairOver: WATER GLENMERE LAKE
.64 KM S SALEM CITY LINE, Essex, MA
Built 1921 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 25,200
ST127 WASHNGTON ST
FairOver: WATER GOOSE COVE
3.5 KM N WASHINGTON CIRCL, Essex, MA
Built 1952 Load: 31.6 t ADT: 13,600
ST 97 BROADWAY
FairOver: I 495 NB
1.1 KM N MERIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 31.6 t ADT: 33,000
I 495 NB
FairOver: WATER POWWOW RIVER
1 MI N EXIT 54, Essex, MA
Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 31,686
I 495 SB
FairOver: WATER POWWOW RIVER
1 MI N EXIT 54, Essex, MA
Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 31,697
HWY LISA LANE
FairOver: WATER CONSERVATION AREA
0.15 M. WEST OF MAIN ST., Essex, MA
Built 2003 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 300
HWY ELM ST
FairOver: I 495
0.5 MI N OF EXIT 55, Essex, MA
Built 1964 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 10,500
HWY N BROADWAY
FairOver: I 495 NB
1.3 MILES N MERRIMAC RIVR, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,400
I 93
FairOver: HWY HAMPSHIRE RD
.1 MI S NEW HAMPSHIRE STA, Essex, MA
Built 1959 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 145,312
HWY DEARBON RD
FairOver: HWY US 1 N RAMP C
0.16 KM EAST US 1, Essex, MA
Built 1959 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,600
ST 35 WATER ST
FairOver: WATER CRANE RIVER
.75 MI NW OF PEABODY, Essex, MA
Built 1980 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 32,000
HWY LOCUST ST
FairOver: I 495
.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA
Built 1964 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 1,516
ST110 MERRIMACK ST
FairOver: I 495
1 MI S OF ST-213, Essex, MA
Built 1962 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 17,608
US 1 SB/BROADWAY
FairOver: ST 99 NB CONN
1.5 MI N OF JCT SR60&US1, Essex, MA
Built 1975 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 41,000
HWY DANVERS RD
FairOver: RR MBTA/BMRR
.1 MILES WEST ESSEX STREE, Essex, MA
Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 35,400
HWY GREENWOOD RD
FairOver: I 495 SB
GREENWOOD AT I-495, Essex, MA
Built 1962 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 1,700
HWY LOCKWOOD LN
FairOver: I 95
1.4 MI N IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1976 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 79,154
I 495 NB
FairOver: ST110
AT EXIT 55, Essex, MA
Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 49,402
HWY AMESBURY ST
FairOver: COMB MERIMAC RIV/ACCESS
AT MERRIMACK RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1918 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25,000
HWY FOREST ST
FairOver: I 95
AT MM 65.3, Essex, MA
Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500
HWY NORTH AVE
FairOver: I 495
.5 MI N OF ST-125, Essex, MA
Built 1961 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 16,150
US 1 SB/NEWBRY ST
FairOver: I 95
.8 MI N OF ST-62, Essex, MA
Built 1972 Load: 32.9 t ADT: 29,500
I 95 NB
FairOver: HWY FULLER LN
.9 MI N IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA
Built 1974 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 43,866
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
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.