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.
Poor-condition bridges (77)
HWY PINEDALE AVE
PoorOver: WATER E BR TULLY RIVER
ATHOL/ORANGE TOWN LINE, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,293
US 20 EB/WSHNGTN
PoorOver: I 395
.3 MI S OF I-90, Worcester, MA
Built 1965 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10,144
US202 MAPLE ST
PoorOver: WATER N BR MILLERS RIVER
0.25 M W JCT GLENALLEN, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 6,595
HWY WHITNEY ST
PoorOver: RR CSX
.5 MI S OF SOLOMN PD RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1986 Load: 7.0 t ADT: 1,200
HWY BRANDON RD
PoorOver: OTHER MILL RACE (DRY)
.3MI. EST. OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 8.6 t ADT: 2,260
HWY POND ST
PoorOver: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK
200 FT EAST OF ELM STREET, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 4,300
HWY HARRISON ST
PoorOver: I 290
.1 MI. E. OF WATER ST., Worcester, MA
Built 1958 Load: 14.4 t ADT: 1,000
HWY LAUREL ST
PoorOver: I 290
.2 MI E OF SUMMER ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1958 Load: 17.1 t ADT: 500
HWY OLD COLNY RD
PoorOver: WATER WARE RIVER
20 N OF ST 62, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 400
HWY LINWOOD AVE
PoorOver: WATER LINWOOD POND
NEAR UXBRIDGE LINE, Worcester, MA
Built 1923 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 7,363
ST 32 NW BRNTRE RD
PoorOver: WATER WARE CANAL
0.6 MI N OF JCT 67, Worcester, MA
Built 1934 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 3,750
HWY MANCHAUG RD
PoorOver: WATER MUMFORD RIVER
200 FT.W OF PUTNAM HILL R, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 1,600
HWY BARR RD
PoorOver: WATER MEADOW BROOK
0.2 M S GILBERTVILLE RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1939 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 1,293
HWY HOMEWARD AVE
PoorOver: RR PWRR
.2 MI EAST OF ST 122, Worcester, MA
Built 1983 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 500
HWY OAK HILL RD
PoorOver: WATER N NASHUA RIVER
AT JCT OF RTE 31, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,800
ST 2 A/LNENBRG ST
PoorOver: WATER BAKER BROOK
100 FT E OF J. FITCH HWY, Worcester, MA
Built 1954 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 14,245
HWY BANCROFT ST
PoorOver: I 90
I-90 MM 91.7, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 1,400
ST 2 A/WATER ST
PoorOver: COMB BOULDER DR & BMRR
JUST N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA
Built 1900 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 16,708
ST 62 HUBBARDSTN
PoorOver: WATER CANESTO BROOK
3.0 MI W OF RT 68, Worcester, MA
Built 1933 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,201
HWY MENDON RD
PoorOver: WATER WEST RIVER
.6 MI. W. OF MENDON T.L., Worcester, MA
Built 1959 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 3,144
ST 32 MAIN ST
PoorOver: WATER CANAL OVERFLOW
1500 N OF INT PEACH ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 3,800
ST 31 RESERVOIR ST
PoorOver: RR PWRR
.5 MI W OF ST-122A, Worcester, MA
Built 1983 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 11,497
HWY CREAMERY RD
PoorOver: WATER WARE RIVER
0.18 M SE OF RT32, Worcester, MA
Built 1939 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 100
ST 31 N SPENCER RD
PoorOver: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER
AT CORNER OF HASTINGS RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 5,299
ST122 MAIN ST
PoorOver: OTHER BLACKSTONE R GRNWY
.1 MI S OF MILLVILLE T.L., Worcester, MA
Built 1958 Load: 26.0 t ADT: 3,245
HWY MILL ST
PoorOver: WATER BAKER BROOK
.1MI E OF RT68 BY RSDL PD, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 650
HWY WINCHNDON RD
PoorOver: WATER PRIEST BROOK
JUST W OF WINCHENDON LINE, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 1,293
ST 2
PoorOver: HWY HARVARD ST
.5 MI E OF I-190, Worcester, MA
Built 1951 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 50,065
HWY HIGH ST
PoorOver: WATER MILLERS RIVER
600 S INT WITH ST 12, Worcester, MA
Built 1850 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 1,810
HWY CIRCLE ST
PoorOver: WATER N NASHUA RIVER
0.1 MI S OF ST-31, Worcester, MA
Built 1937 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 800
HWY OXFORD ST
PoorOver: WATER KETTLE BROOK
AT CORNER OF ROCHDALE ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1880 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 22,200
ST122 GRAFTON ST
PoorOver: US 20 SW CUT OFF
.3 MI. N. OF MILLBURY TL, Worcester, MA
Built 1931 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 17,943
HWY CHAMPEAUX RD
PoorOver: WATER LONG POND
.3 MI W OF ST-148, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 400
HWY DEPOT RD
PoorOver: I 395
@MM9 0.5 MI E OF ST12, Worcester, MA
Built 1976 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 5,029
I 495 SB
PoorOver: ST109 MEDWAY RD
MM 48.6, Worcester, MA
Built 1968 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 38,224
I 495 SB
PoorOver: RR MBTA/CSX
600 FT N OF HOPKINTON TL, Worcester, MA
Built 1968 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 51,588
I 90 WB
PoorOver: ST 12 SOUTHBRIDGE ST
AT I-90 MM 90.6, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 41,794
HWY PINROCK RD
PoorOver: WATER WORC DVRSN CHANNEL
.1 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 357
I 395 SB
PoorOver: WATER LOWES POND
JUST S. OF SUTTON AVE., Worcester, MA
Built 1973 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 20,576
ST 31 NB RLLSTN ST
PoorOver: WATER N NASHUA RIVER
.2 MI. S. OF MAIN ST., Worcester, MA
Built 1909 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 3,100
HWY HARTWELL ST
PoorOver: RR BMRR
.1 MI E OF SHREWSBURY ST, Worcester, MA
Built 1908 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 150
HWY SALISBURY ST
PoorOver: RR PWRR
400 FT SOUTH OF RTE 122-A, Worcester, MA
Built 1907 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,509
HWY WARREN RD
PoorOver: WATER LONG POND INLET
700 FT W OF BROOKFIELD RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1950 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,740
I 495 NB
PoorOver: RR MBTA/CSX
1.4 MI SO. OF ST 9, Worcester, MA
Built 1968 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 46,713
ST 12 NB/W BYLSTN
PoorOver: RR PWRR/BMRR
.2 MI E OF I-190, Worcester, MA
Built 1936 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,028
HWY OLD COLDBRK
PoorOver: WATER PRINCE RIVER
300 E OF VALLEY RD, Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 259
ST 56 LEICESTER RD
PoorOver: WATER FRENCH RIVER
.2 MI S OF LEICESTER T.L., Worcester, MA
Built 1964 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 6,656
US 20 STURBRDGE RD
PoorOver: WATER CADY BROOK
50 FT E OF ST-169, Worcester, MA
Built 1957 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 28,000
ST 2 A/MAIN ST
PoorOver: RR GWRR
.1 M W JCT CHSNT HILL RD., Worcester, MA
Built 1938 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10,649
US 20 WB/WSHNGTN
PoorOver: I 395
EXIT 11A/B .3 MI S OF 90, Worcester, MA
Built 1965 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 10,027
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.