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.

Total bridges

1,014

Public highway bridges in Worcester County

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

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).

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

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.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Worcester County and the 5 Massachusetts counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Worcester County (this page) 1,014 7.6%
Middlesex County 818 11.1%
Suffolk County 489 9.6%
Berkshire County 450 7.8%
Hampden County 428 7.5%
Essex County 395 17.2%

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).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside MA (1963 here).

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

All 1,014 Good 259 Fair 678 Poor 77

Good-condition bridges (259)

I 395 NB

Good

Over: HWY MEMORIAL BEACH RD

200 FT E OF RT 193, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 13,983

HWY SWANSON RD

Good

Over: I 290

.1 MI W OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 34,930

I 90 EX 96 INT 11

Good

Over: I 90

.5 MI. S. OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 6,756

HWY BELLNGHAM ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1.2 MI.WEST OF ST.140, Worcester, MA

Built 1995 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 3,971

NEW BOSTON ROAD

Good

Over: MILLER RIVER

16.09 KM N OF GARDNER, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 50

ST 85 MARLBORO RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

0.9 MI NORTH OF RT 30, Worcester, MA

Built 1994 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 7,800

I 395 NB

Good

Over: ST 16 GORE RD

EXIT 2, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 17,340

I 395 SB

Good

Over: ST 16 GORE RD

.1 MI.EST.OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 12,223

ST 2 EB

Good

Over: ST 2 A/W BROADWAY

.3 MILES NORTH OF ST 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 11,745

HWY SHORE RD

Good

Over: WATER FIVE MILE RIVER

AT N END OF LAKE LASHAWAY, Worcester, MA

Built 1993 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 850

HWY JAMES ST

Good

Over: RR CSX

.5 MILES N. OF AUBURN T/L, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 14,746

I 290 EB

Good

Over: HWY AUBURN ST

.3 MI W OF INT ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 34,930

HWY N HARBOR RD

Good

Over: COMB BMRR & BROOK

.2 MI N OF ST 110, Worcester, MA

Built 1985 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 3,612

HWY JONES RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

.5MI E. OF ST.31, Worcester, MA

Built 2012 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 400

ST 31 RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

100 FT E OF WALLACE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 9,104

HWY ASHBY W RD

Good

Over: WATER SCOTT RESRVR OTLT

2.1 MI. S. OF ASHBY LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 2011 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 100

HWY JACKSON RD

Good

Over: ST 2

.1 MI. W. OF HARVARD TL., Worcester, MA

Built 1951 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 4,329

HWY HAMILTON ST

Good

Over: ST 2

.5 MILES WEST OF ST-13, Worcester, MA

Built 1949 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 10,966

HWY FISKE ML RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1M N OF RT140 @UPTN LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1945 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 2,949

US202 /ST2

Good

Over: ST 2 A/STATE RD

MM 76.8 ON US202/ST2, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 20,172

ST 31 E PRINCTN RD

Good

Over: WATER E WACHUSETT BROOK

AT MILE MARKER 39.2, Worcester, MA

Built 2020 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 1,723

HWY TOWN DUMP RD

Good

Over: WATER LAWRENCE BROOK

0.8 M S OF ATHOL RD/RT63, Worcester, MA

Built 2019 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 15

ST 12 WEBSTER ST

Good

Over: WATER MIDDLE RIVER

300 FT. WEST OF MILL ST., Worcester, MA

Built 2013 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 9,749

HWY JAMES ST

Good

Over: WATER KETTLE BROOK

.2MI.WST.OF S.LUDLOW ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1994 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 776

HWY CHACE HLL RD

Good

Over: RR BMRR

.25 MILES NORTH OF ST 110, Worcester, MA

Built 1985 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 1,300

ST 2

Good

Over: WATER LAKE ROHUNTA

MM 71.3 ON RT 2, Worcester, MA

Built 1955 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 11,683

HWY TRAVERS ST

Good

Over: WATER TRAVERS POND INLET

G-01-023 (, Worcester, MA

Built 2011 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 500

US 20 HARTFORD TPK

Good

Over: WATER FLINT POND

1.5 MI. E. OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 2001 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 24,182

US 20 CONNECTOR

Good

Over: ST146

.1 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1996 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 24,616

ST 16 MENDON ST

Good

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 12,888

I 90 WB

Good

Over: ST146

MM94 0.3 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 43,581

HWY HALE RD

Good

Over: WATER NATTY POND BROOK

0.8MI N OF RT.62, Worcester, MA

Built 2000 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 130

HWY HARTFORD AVE

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF NECK HILL R, Worcester, MA

Built 1991 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 10,050

I 90 EB

Good

Over: ST146

MM94 0.3 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 43,740

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.6 MI W OF ST-85, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 700

HWY HARVARD ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.1 MI. N. OF ST-2, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 8,300

HWY WHITNEY ST

Good

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

.4 MI N OF MECHANIC ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 5,000

ST146 WOR-PVD TPK

Good

Over: HWY W MAIN ST

.3MI. WST. OF MILBURY CTR, Worcester, MA

Built 2020 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 48,300

ST146 NB

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI. N. OF U.S.-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 21,856

HWY MURPHY ST

Good

Over: WATER SUCKER BROOK

500 FROM INT. KING ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 150

ST 9 BELMONT ST E

Good

Over: WATER LAKE QUINSIGAMOND

100 F.T. E. OF LAKE AVE., Worcester, MA

Built 2016 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 29,900

ST 9 BELMONT ST W

Good

Over: WATER LAKE QUINSIGAMOND

100 F.T. E. OF LAKE AVE., Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 27,700

I 90 EB

Good

Over: HWY WOODLAND RD

I-90 MM 109.3, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 51,120

I 90 WB

Good

Over: HWY WOODLAND RD

.6 MI. E. OF ST-85, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 50,878

ST 62 PRINCETON RD

Good

Over: WATER STILLWATER RIVER

.1MI. E. OF ST-140, Worcester, MA

Built 2011 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,835

ST 67 /ST19/QUABOA

Good

Over: RR CSX

0.4 MI S OF ST 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 4,706

I 90 EB

Good

Over: HWY FLANDERS RD

I-90 MM 107.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 47,144

I 90 WB

Good

Over: HWY FLANDERS RD

I-90 MM 107.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 45,694

I 190 SB

Good

Over: HWY FLANAGAN HILL RD

.6 MI. EAST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 20,783

HWY BEMIS RD

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

0.2 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 11,967

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

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
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.