Total bridges
1,014
Public highway bridges in Worcester County
County profile · official public datasets
Worcester County, MA
1,014 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 25.5% rated Good, 66.9% Fair, 7.6% Poor.
- 1,014
- Public bridges
- 25.5%
- Good condition
- 7.6%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Worcester County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.
- 7th
- of 13 on Poor share
- 7.6%
- Poor-condition share
- 1,014
- public highway bridges
- 1963
- 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.
Worcester County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Worcester County ranks #7 of 13 Massachusetts counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 7.6%). Worcester County, Massachusetts contains 1,014 public highway bridges. Roughly 25.5% are rated “Good,” 66.9% “Fair,” and 7.6% “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
25.5%
259 of 1,014 rated 7-9
Fair condition
66.9%
678 of 1,014 rated 5-6
Poor condition
7.6%
77 of 1,014 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#7 of 13
Among Massachusetts counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 1,014 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 25.5% (259)
Fair 66.9% (678)
Poor 7.6% (77)
Worcester County's Poor-condition bridges carry 959,932 vehicle crossings a day
That is 6.1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 7.6% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 12,467 crossings a day against 11,673 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 1,013 of 1,014 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
65.6% of Worcester County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
665 of the 1,014 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 25.5% 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 6.8% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
I 290 EB over HWY E CENTRAL ST, built 1958, carries 65,611 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 77-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 959,932 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Worcester County's bridges were built
1,014 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 29
Built before 1900
29 bridges
- 1900s 42
1900–1909
42 bridges
- 1910s 11
1910–1919
11 bridges
- 1920s 15
1920–1929
15 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
107 bridges
- 1940s 40
1940–1949
40 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
224 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
167 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
124 bridges
- 1980s 62
1980–1989
62 bridges
- 1990s 61
1990–1999
61 bridges
- 2000s 63
2000–2009
63 bridges
- 2010s 53
2010–2019
53 bridges
- 2020s 16
2020–2029
16 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1950s, when 224 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 22.1% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 65 to 74 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1963) matches the Massachusetts average (1961).
How Worcester County compares with Massachusetts's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Massachusetts counties nearest Worcester County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 7.6% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1963 against a peer-group mean of 1960 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 12 Massachusetts counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County (this page) | 1,014 | 25.5% | 66.9% | 7.6% | 1963 |
| Middlesex County | 818 | 20.7% | 68.2% | 11.1% | 1958 |
| Suffolk County | 489 | 22.7% | 67.7% | 9.6% | 1967 |
| Berkshire County | 450 | 34.7% | 57.6% | 7.8% | 1961 |
| Hampden County | 428 | 17.1% | 75.5% | 7.5% | 1956 |
| Essex County | 395 | 15.9% | 66.8% | 17.2% | 1957 |
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 Worcester 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 Worcester County, both outside Massachusetts so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside MA (1,014 bridges here).
- Lane County, OR · 1,010 bridges
- Wayne County, MI · 1,026 bridges
- Denton County, TX · 991 bridges
- Miami-Dade County, FL · 1,057 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MA (1963 here).
- Honolulu County, HI · avg 1963 · 682 bridges
- Chester County, PA · avg 1963 · 680 bridges
- Essex County, NJ · avg 1963 · 505 bridges
- Passaic County, NJ · avg 1963 · 333 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (678)
ST 31 RIVER ST
FairOver: WATER N NASHUA RIVER
EAST OF BROAD STREET, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 9,346
HWY NORTHSIDE RD
FairOver: I 90
0.3 MI. S. OF STAFFORD ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 1,034
HWY BROOKSIDE RD
FairOver: WATER CADY BROOK
300 FT. E. OF RT-169, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 1,000
HWY HARTFORD AVE
FairOver: WATER MUMFORD RIVER
.4 MI E OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA
Built 1955 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 6,538
I 495 SB
FairOver: ST 30 MAIN ST
1.25 MILES NO. OF STATE 9, Worcester, MA
Built 1962 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 30,782
ST 68 E COUNTY RD
FairOver: WATER WARE RIVER
0.2 MI NW OF ST 56, Worcester, MA
Built 1947 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,092
I 495 NB
FairOver: ST 30 MAIN ST
1.25 MILES NO OF ST. 9, Worcester, MA
Built 1962 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 32,128
HWY MILLBURY ST
FairOver: WATER QUINSIGAMOND RIVER
.1 M W OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA
Built 1953 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 3,518
HWY POND ST
FairOver: ST146 NB
@ ST 146 MM 4.7, Worcester, MA
Built 1950 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 800
HWY COMMRCIAL ST
FairOver: WATER NASHUA RIVER
0.1 MI. E. OF PUTNAM ST., Worcester, MA
Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 130
ST110 /ST111/AYER
FairOver: ST 2
2.9 MI E OF JACKSON RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 13,458
ST122 A/MAIN ST
FairOver: RR PWRR
.3 MI N OF JCT RTE 31, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 20,712
HWY BURNCOAT ST
FairOver: I 290
I-290 MM 8.3, Worcester, MA
Built 1962 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 11,193
HWY PLEASANT ST
FairOver: WATER WEST RIVER
.2 MI. W. OF MAPLE AVE., Worcester, MA
Built 1959 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 4,611
HWY LOGAN RD
FairOver: WATER E BR TULLY RIVER
0.1MI W. OF RTE. 32, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 2,328
I 84 WB
FairOver: ST 15 MASHAPAUG RD
4 MI SOUTH OF US-20, Worcester, MA
Built 1970 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 30,938
ST131 SNDRSDALE RD
FairOver: WATER SANDERSDALE CANAL
AT VILLAGE DR., Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 13,189
HWY WEST RIV ST
FairOver: WATER WEST RIVER
.8 MI SW OF MENDON ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1959 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 776
HWY EAST ST
FairOver: WATER BROWNS POND
1M E OF RT32 1M S OF 101, Worcester, MA
Built 1951 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 1,200
HWY BRANDON RD
FairOver: WATER FRENCH RIVER
.1 MILE EAST OF CHASE AVE, Worcester, MA
Built 1925 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,875
I 190 NB
FairOver: RR CSX
0.1 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1978 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 20,575
HWY OLD WSTBORO
FairOver: I 90
I-90 MM 100.0, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,400
I 495 SB
FairOver: HWY S BOLTON RD
1.75 MI S OF ST-117, Worcester, MA
Built 1963 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 44,096
ST 2 WB
FairOver: HWY PEARSON BLVD NB
.5 MI. E. OF ST-68, Worcester, MA
Built 1961 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 22,179
HWY LINDEN ST
FairOver: WATER NORTH BROOK
.4 MI. W. OF ST-62, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,129
I 495 NB
FairOver: HWY S BOLTON RD
1.75 MI S OF ST-117, Worcester, MA
Built 1963 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 45,106
ST 2
FairOver: RR BMRR
1.25 MI W. OF ST 110 &111, Worcester, MA
Built 1951 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 57,765
HWY DUDLEY RD
FairOver: WATER FRENCH RIVER
.5 MI SW OF CHARLTON ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1953 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 6,100
HWY VINTON ST
FairOver: WATER CADY BROOK
300 FEET EAST OF ST 169, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 900
I 190 SB & RAMP C
FairOver: RR CSX
.1 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1978 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 19,688
ST135 MILK ST
FairOver: RR MBTA/CSX
1 MI S OF ST-9, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 11,236
HWY S MAIN ST
FairOver: ST 2 WB
MM 84.0 ON ST 2 WB, Worcester, MA
Built 1969 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,716
HWY WHITMNVIL RD
FairOver: WATER WHITMAN RIVER
400FT SW OF ASHBURNHAM RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 130
HWY MILLBROOK ST
FairOver: I 190 SB
.2 MI E OF GLD STAR BLV, Worcester, MA
Built 1962 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 11,274
DOANE HILL ROAD
FairOver: TULLY RIVER
1.609 KM N OF TULLY LAKE, Worcester, MA
Built 1944 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 200
HWY MANCHAUG ST
FairOver: WATER MUMFORD RIVER
2 MI.WST.OF ST.146, Worcester, MA
Built 1947 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,800
ST 2
FairOver: HWY DEPOT ST
.9 MI. W. OF ST 110&111, Worcester, MA
Built 1951 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 52,262
HWY UPTON RD
FairOver: I 90
0.75 MI W OF REST AREA, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 4,400
I 290 EB
FairOver: HWY SOUTHBRIDGE ST
.25 MI S OF MIDDLE RIVER, Worcester, MA
Built 1966 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 43,750
I 495 NB
FairOver: RR BMRR (ABANDONED)
0.1 MI N OF ST-62, Worcester, MA
Built 1963 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 45,106
I 90 EB
FairOver: US 20 WASHINGTON ST
.7 MI W OF MLBURY TN LINE, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 9,912
HWY WILLIAMS ST
FairOver: WATER WEST RIVER
50 FT.WST. OF ST.140, Worcester, MA
Built 1952 Load: 26.0 t ADT: 4,700
HWY SPRING RD
FairOver: I 90
AT I-90 MM 103.9, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 26.0 t ADT: 860
HWY SOUTH ST
FairOver: COMB QUABOAG R & CSX
AT JCT OF ST 67, Worcester, MA
Built 1980 Load: 26.1 t ADT: 3,103
I 90 INT 90 RAMPS
FairOver: I 90
MM 90.1 OLD INT 10, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 16,513
ST169 SOUTHBRDG RD
FairOver: WATER CADY BROOK
.6 MI N OF SOUTHBRIDGE TL, Worcester, MA
Built 1947 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 11,103
ST140 MAIN ST
FairOver: WATER WARREN BROOK
130 FT S OF MECHANIC ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1928 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 10,105
HWY GILBERT RD
FairOver: I 90
MM 67.9 ON I-90, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 200
ST 12 MILL ST
FairOver: WATER BEAVER BROOK
.1 MI N OF MAIN ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1931 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 7,443
HWY HILLSVLLE RD
FairOver: WATER FIVE MILE RIVER
CORNER OF KITTTREDGE RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 1,600
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.