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)
I 190 SB
FairOver: I 190 SB OFF RAMP N
.5 MILES WEST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1979 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 18,209
I 495 SB
FairOver: HWY FLANDERS RD
1.7 MI SE OF ST-9, Worcester, MA
Built 1966 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 51,588
I 90 EB
FairOver: HWY WHEELOCK AVE
I-90 MM 95.9, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 46,910
HWY POND ST
FairOver: ST146 SB
1.2 MI. N. OF MILL ST., Worcester, MA
Built 1983 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 500
HWY TOWNSND HRBR
FairOver: WATER MULPUS BROOK
.7 MI NE OF RT 2-A, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 3,553
I 190 NB
FairOver: HWY FLANAGAN HILL RD
.6 MI. EAST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1978 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 19,010
ST 2
FairOver: ST 32 PETERSHAM RD
MM 75.2 ON ST 2, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 1,491
I 190 SB
FairOver: HWY GREENLAND RD
@ MM 10.6, Worcester, MA
Built 1979 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 16,294
ST122 PLEASANT ST
FairOver: WATER TATNUK BROOK
400 FT W. OF CHANDLER ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 15,411
I 495 NB
FairOver: COMB MDC AQUEDUCT & CSX
MM 61.2 /1.5 MI N OF ST-9, Worcester, MA
Built 1962 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 41,712
I 290 GRFTN ST ONR
FairOver: HWY KEESE ST
.3 MI N OF HAMILTON ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1960 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 6,994
I 290 SHWBY ST OFR
FairOver: HWY MBTA PKNG ACCSS
.1 MI.E.OF WASHINGTON SQ., Worcester, MA
Built 1960 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 9,414
HWY GOULD RD
FairOver: RR CSX
.3 MI. N. OF CEMETARY RD., Worcester, MA
Built 1978 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 260
HWY STAFFORD ST
FairOver: RR CSX
1.4 MI SW OF OXFORD T.L, Worcester, MA
Built 1914 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 3,851
I 190 NB
FairOver: HWY MECHANIC ST
MM 18.9 .2 M S OF ST2, Worcester, MA
Built 1976 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 14,985
I 190 NB
FairOver: I 190 SB OFF RAMP N
.5 MILES WEST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1979 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 14,835
HWY HMLET MLL RD
FairOver: WATER OTTER RIVER
1000 S OF ST 68, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 1,000
ST 9 TURNPIKE RD
FairOver: ST 30 E MAIN ST
1.5 MI. W. OF I-495, Worcester, MA
Built 1930 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 30,492
ST148 FISKDALE RD
FairOver: RR CSX
AT CORNER OF MILL ST., Worcester, MA
Built 1987 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,721
HWY WHITE BGLY
FairOver: RR CSX
.7 MI. NRTH. OF RTE.9, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,312
ST122 A/MAIN ST
FairOver: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER
AT CORNER OF CROSS STREET, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 4,360
HWY DEPOT RD
FairOver: ST 2
1.5 MILES EAST OF ST. 140, Worcester, MA
Built 1985 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 5,407
HWY MAYWOOD ST
FairOver: WATER BEAVER BROOK
.1 MI. W OF PARK AVE, Worcester, MA
Built 1930 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 3,717
I 90 WB
FairOver: HWY BROOKFIELD RD
.7 MI W OF STAFFORD ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 38,661
HWY PRINCETON ST
FairOver: WATER ASNEBUMSKIT BROOK
0.4 MI N OF ST-122A, Worcester, MA
Built 1954 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 410
I 90 WB
FairOver: HWY MILLBURY AVE
I-90 MM 95.3, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 48,475
I 90 EB
FairOver: ST 19 BRIMFIELD RD
MM 69.6 ON I-90, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 41,638
I 90 WB
FairOver: ST 19 BRIMFIELD RD
MM 69.6 ON I-90, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 41,638
I 90 EB
FairOver: HWY BROOKFIELD RD
MASS PIKE MM 82.3, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 39,545
HWY DRSSR HLL RD
FairOver: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER
50 FT.EST.OF ST.131, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 1,973
HWY YOUNGS RD
FairOver: WATER BAKER BROOK
.1 MI. N.E. OF SUMMER ST., Worcester, MA
Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 700
HWY ELM ST
FairOver: COMB BLKSTNE RIV & PWRR
.1 MI.E. OF ST.RTE 146, Worcester, MA
Built 1982 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 8,224
ST146
FairOver: RR PWRR
.3 MILES SOUTH OF ST 122A, Worcester, MA
Built 1981 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 40,001
US 20 CONNECTOR
FairOver: COMB PWRR & BLKSTN RIV
.1 MI. S. OF U.S. 20, Worcester, MA
Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 39,293
ST146 A/QUAKER HWY
FairOver: WATER BACON BROOK
1 MILE WEST OF ST. 122, Worcester, MA
Built 1931 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 8,300
HWY LINDELL AVE
FairOver: WATER MONOOSNOC RIVER
AT BROOKS STREET, Worcester, MA
Built 1936 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 8,006
US 20 SOUTHBRGE RD
FairOver: WATER FRENCH RIVER
.1 MI E OF ST-56, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 32,520
HWY RANDOLPH ST
FairOver: WATER CADY BROOK
600 FT E OF ST-169, Worcester, MA
Built 1961 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 1,000
ST 9 BELMONT ST
FairOver: HWY GOLDSBERRY ST
.1 MI.WST.OF I-290, Worcester, MA
Built 1953 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 28,647
ST 62 HUBBRDSTON
FairOver: WATER BURNSHIRT RIVER
1 M W OF HUBBARDSTON, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 1,933
HWY THOMAS ST
FairOver: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER
AT QUINEPOXET RIVER, Worcester, MA
Built 1904 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,245
HWY DAN SHAY HWY
FairOver: RR GWRR
1.5 M N JCT ORANGE T.L., Worcester, MA
Built 1990 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 15,000
I 395 RAMP X
FairOver: I 395 RAMP W
.3 MI SE OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1965 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 4,692
HWY PLEASANT ST
FairOver: WATER BLACKSTONE CANAL
1.4 MI SW OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA
Built 1956 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 3,452
HWY MOWER ST
FairOver: WATER TATNUCK BROOK
.1 MI. W. OF TATNUCK SQ., Worcester, MA
Built 1920 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 3,831
HWY STORES ST NB
FairOver: ST 12 SB & W BOYLSTON DR
100 FT E. OF I-190, Worcester, MA
Built 1977 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 6,979
HWY STONEHSE HLL
FairOver: WATER RESERVOIR OUT
.1 MI N OF RESERVOIR ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1993 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 130
ST 12 SB
FairOver: HWY NEPONSET ST
.1 MI. W. OF I-190, Worcester, MA
Built 1977 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 6,625
HWY NASHUA ST
FairOver: WATER N NASHUA RIVER
.1 MI W. OF I-190 N. END, Worcester, MA
Built 1977 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 10,358
HWY GREENWOOD ST
FairOver: WATER DIVERSON CHANNEL
.1 MI S OF I- 90, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 5,524
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.