State profile · Near median Poor share

Massachusetts bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in Massachusetts.

5,295
Public bridges
25.1%
Good condition
8.9%
Poor condition

Massachusetts holds 5,295 public highway bridges (#35 of 52 by inventory) with a 8.88% Poor share (#14 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 8.9% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 39 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

5,295

Public highway bridges in Massachusetts

Good Condition

25.1%

1,331 bridges rated 7-9

-24.9pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

8.9%

470 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

1.4pp vs national avg 7.5%

Massachusetts vs national bridge condition

Massachusetts - Good condition share 25.1%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Massachusetts - Poor-condition share 29.6%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Massachusetts in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Massachusetts has 5,295 bridges and a 8.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #39 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Massachusetts has 5,295 bridges and a 8.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #39 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

Massachusetts vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

5,295 35th of 54 higher than 19 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for Massachusetts

The highlighted point is Massachusetts: 5,295 bridges and 8.88% in Poor condition, rank #39 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Massachusetts on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Alaska: 1,685 bridges · 7.89% Poor
  • Nebraska: 15,398 bridges · 7.90% Poor
  • Massachusetts: 5,295 bridges · 8.88% Poor
  • Missouri: 24,618 bridges · 8.95% Poor
  • Illinois: 26,928 bridges · 9.35% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Massachusetts

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 5,295 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Massachusetts’s inventory

State agency holds 67.9% of the 5,295 public highway bridges filed under Massachusetts in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Massachusetts’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 26.1% of the 5,295 bridges with a recorded original year in Massachusetts. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Massachusetts25.1%66%8.9%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Massachusetts (FHWA NBI)

Counties (14)

Barnstable 107 Berkshire 450 Bristol 384 Dukes 5 Essex 395 Franklin 314 Hampden 428 Hampshire 259 Middlesex 818 Nantucket 2 Norfolk 343 Plymouth 287 Suffolk 489 Worcester 1014

Massachusetts vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below Massachusetts on the same metric.

AK

Alaska

7.89% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,685

NE

Nebraska

7.90% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$15,398
Selected

MA

Massachusetts

8.88% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,295

MO

Missouri

8.95% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24,618

IL

Illinois

9.35% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,928

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Massachusetts

Six lowest-condition bridges in Massachusetts, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

HWY PINEDALE AVE

Poor

Over: WATER E BR TULLY RIVER

ATHOL/ORANGE TOWN LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,293

US 20 EB/WSHNGTN

Poor

Over: I 395

.3 MI S OF I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10,144

HWY BRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER BASS RIVER

.1 MILE WEST OF RIVER ST, Essex, MA

Built 1929 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 21,300

HWY RIVER ST

Poor

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.8 KM SW OF MATTAPAN SQ., Suffolk, MA

Built 1883 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 24,000

HWY DORCHSTR AVE

Poor

Over: COMB MBTA & RED LN

OVER RED LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1924 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 11,800

HWY STORRW DR WB

Poor

Over: HWY STORROW DR EB

.1 N OF BEACON ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 57,770

All Bridges in Massachusetts

ST128

Fair

Over: HWY CONCORD ST

.7 MI N ST133, Essex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 90,905

HWY WOOD ST EXT

Fair

Over: COMB BMRR & MERRIMACK R

ROURKE BRIDGE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1983 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 32,200

HWY SIXTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER UTILITY CANAL

JCT 6TH ST & UTIL CANAL, Franklin, MA

Built 1988 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 517

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CUSHMAN BROOK

300 S JCT LEV RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1972 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 6,429

HWY BRYANT ST

Fair

Over: ST 24

1.5 MI. S OF PADELFORD ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1950 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 1,681

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: I 90

28.8 MILE MARKER, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 800

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

NEAR DORCHESTER, Suffolk, MA

Built 1933 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 22,000

HWY MIDDLE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.1 MI.SE OF ELM ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 13,000

ST128

Fair

Over: HWY MAPLEWOOD AVE

.4 MI N WASHINGTON CIRCLE, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 29,000

HWY VERNON ST

Fair

Over: I 495

0.5 M S OF RAYNHAM TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1962 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 21,700

I 495

Fair

Over: WATER NEMASKET RIVER

1 M S OF RTE 495 / 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 45,777

HWY SPEEN ST NB

Fair

Over: HWY RAMPS D & G

0.8 MI WEST RTS 9 & 27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1977 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 15,000

HWY MAFFA WAY

Fair

Over: COMB ORANGE & MBTA/BMRR

600 M NW OF SULLIVAN SQ, Suffolk, MA

Built 1952 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 19,526

ST 3 SB/PLGRM HWY

Fair

Over: HWY HERRING POND RD

1 M N OF BOURNE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1957 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 14,500

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST 2 WB

MM 84.0 ON ST 2 WB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,716

HWY WHITMNVIL RD

Fair

Over: WATER WHITMAN RIVER

400FT SW OF ASHBURNHAM RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 130

HWY MILLBROOK ST

Fair

Over: I 190 SB

.2 MI E OF GLD STAR BLV, Worcester, MA

Built 1962 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 11,274

US 20 HUNTINGTN RD

Fair

Over: RR BARR (ABANDONED)

.4 MI EAST OF MAPLE ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1929 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 3,200

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER APPONAGANSETT RIV

1.6 MI E OF TUCKER RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1935 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 7,554

ST 24 SB RAMP

Fair

Over: I 195 WB

@ WATTUPPA RAMP TO 195 EB, Bristol, MA

Built 1961 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 9,308

ST 47 BAY RD

Fair

Over: WATER FORT RIVER

.1 M S JCT MIDDLE ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 1935 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 17,800

HWY EAST RD

Fair

Over: WATER BOZRAH BROOK

EAST OF BOZRAH RD INT, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 150

ST 3 NB/PLGRM HWY

Fair

Over: HWY CHERRY ST

1.2 M N OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 55,603

ST 3 SB/PLGRM HWY

Fair

Over: HWY CHERRY ST

1.2 M N OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 32,213

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: ST 3 A/CAMBRIDGE ST

AT JUNC. OF I 95 & ST 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 25.5 t ADT: 89,900

ST140 SB

Fair

Over: HWY COUNTY ST

AT ST140, Plymouth, MA

Built 1969 Load: 25.5 t ADT: 16,448

HWY WARWICK RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

1.9 MI NE OF ST MARYS ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 25.5 t ADT: 647

ST 3 NB/PLGRM HWY

Fair

Over: HWY HERRING POND RD

1 M N OF BOURNE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1957 Load: 25.5 t ADT: 17,214

ST 27 ELM ST

Fair

Over: RR MACRR/CSX

CSX MP QBF 8.83, Norfolk, MA

Built 1960 Load: 25.5 t ADT: 16,034

US 6 WB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: COMB WILLOW ST & MACRR

4.0 M E OF RTE 132, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 25.5 t ADT: 25,900

HWY BLANDFORD RD

Fair

Over: WATER MIKE DUNN BROOK

S OF RTE20 AT MITCHELL RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1940 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 259

DOANE HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: TULLY RIVER

1.609 KM N OF TULLY LAKE, Worcester, MA

Built 1944 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 200

ST 28 NB

Fair

Over: HWY THOMAS LANDERS RD

3 M S OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1960 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 11,455

ST 28 SB

Fair

Over: HWY THOMAS LANDERS RD

3 M S OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1960 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 13,362

ST 9 RUSSELL ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

250 E JCT DAMON RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1937 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 58,000

ST113 PLSNT VAL ST

Fair

Over: ST213

.2 MI W I495, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 13,200

HWY MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER DUNBAR BROOK

0.2M W OF NRTH RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1948 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 259

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

AT NORTH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 5,818

HWY WORTHNGTN RD

Fair

Over: WATER ALDER MEADOW BROOK

800 S OF OLD RTE. 9, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 905

HWY OLD RTE 9

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD BROOK

0.5 MI E OF JCT RTE 9, Berkshire, MA

Built 1912 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 259

ST 9 BLCHRTOWN RD

Fair

Over: WATER FORT RIVER

300 W JCT OLD FARM RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1979 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 12,414

HWY MANCHAUG ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

2 MI.WST.OF ST.146, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,800

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER BACHELOR BROOK

1 MI N OF RT202, Hampshire, MA

Built 1927 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,034

ST 2

Fair

Over: HWY DEPOT ST

.9 MI. W. OF ST 110&111, Worcester, MA

Built 1951 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 52,262

ST 2 /ST8/UNION

Fair

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

AT CLIFF STREET, Berkshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 8,000

HWY UPTON RD

Fair

Over: I 90

0.75 MI W OF REST AREA, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 4,400

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY SOUTHBRIDGE ST

.25 MI S OF MIDDLE RIVER, Worcester, MA

Built 1966 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 43,750

ST 8 GROVE ST

Fair

Over: COMB HOOSIC R & ASHWLLT

.2 MI NORTH OF QUALITY ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1951 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 13,060

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: RR BMRR (ABANDONED)

0.1 MI N OF ST-62, Worcester, MA

Built 1963 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 45,106

HWY FAULKNER ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

1.2 KM E OF RTE 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 6,871

Showing 451-500 of 5,295 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

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

What to do with this

Use Massachusetts's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Massachusetts and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Massachusetts Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.