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

I 95 ST128

Poor

Over: HWY QUINOBEQUIN RD

0.3 MI SLY RT 16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 142,579

HWY HOMEWARD AVE

Poor

Over: RR PWRR

.2 MI EAST OF ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1983 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 500

HWY OAK HILL RD

Poor

Over: 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

Poor

Over: WATER BAKER BROOK

100 FT E OF J. FITCH HWY, Worcester, MA

Built 1954 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 14,245

HWY LINCOLN RD

Poor

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

2 MI E OF CONCORD RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1992 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,551

HWY BRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

200 S OF RTE 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1918 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,400

HWY BUSSEY ST

Poor

Over: WATER MOTHER BROOK

@ INTERSECTION CURVE ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 1976 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 12,400

HWY LIBERTY ST

Poor

Over: WATER LOWER MILL POND

450 W OF ADAMS ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,650

HWY BACON ST

Poor

Over: I 95

.1 MI SW OF US 1, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 10,800

HWY BANCROFT ST

Poor

Over: I 90

I-90 MM 91.7, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 1,400

ST125 BALLRDVLE ST

Poor

Over: I 93

RT 125 AT RT 93, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 23,700

HWY SUDBURY RD

Poor

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.8 MI. E. OF RT. 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1902 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 4,400

ST 2 A/WATER ST

Poor

Over: COMB BOULDER DR & BMRR

JUST N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 16,708

US 1

Poor

Over: HWY MERRIMAC ST

.1 MI S MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 11,620

ST 10 CHURCH ST

Poor

Over: WATER FALL RIVER

AT JCT W I-91 SB RAMP#28, Franklin, MA

Built 1959 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 8,500

ST 3 NB/MEMORL DR

Poor

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

JUST S OF LONGFELLOW BR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 17,000

HWY CORDAVLLE RD

Poor

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

1.3 MI NE OF HOPKINTON, Middlesex, MA

Built 1870 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 8,091

ST 62 HUBBARDSTN

Poor

Over: WATER CANESTO BROOK

3.0 MI W OF RT 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1933 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,201

ST127 WESTERN AVE

Poor

Over: WATER BLYNMAN CANAL

AT ANISQUAM RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 4,886

US 6 MARION RD

Poor

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

2 MI E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1929 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 8,832

I 93

Poor

Over: I 95 /ST128

RT 93 AT RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 200,824

HWY DALTON ST

Poor

Over: COMB I 90&CAMBRIA&CSX

AT HYNES CONVNTN CENTR, Suffolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 17,844

ST 2 A/MARRETT RD

Poor

Over: I 95 /ST128

RT 2A AT RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 23,310

ST127 WASHNGTON ST

Poor

Over: WATER HODGKINS COVE

5.9 KM N WASHINGTON CIRCL, Essex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 13,600

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

MM 65.4, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 55,989

HWY MENDON RD

Poor

Over: WATER WEST RIVER

.6 MI. W. OF MENDON T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 3,144

ST 3 A/GORHAM ST

Poor

Over: I 495

1.25 MI W RT495/RT3, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 84,000

ST 1 A/LYNNWAY

Poor

Over: WATER SAUGUS RIVER

.3 MI DOWNSTREAM OF B&MRR, Essex, MA

Built 1934 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 85,600

HWY STATE AVE

Poor

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

AT PALMER LINE, Hampden, MA

Built 1929 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,103

ST 32 MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WATER CANAL OVERFLOW

1500 N OF INT PEACH ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 3,800

HWY RIVER ST

Poor

Over: HWY PLIMOTH PLNTN HWY

1.13 KM W OF RTE 3A, Plymouth, MA

Built 1951 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 5,200

ST 2 VTRNS MEM DR

Poor

Over: COMB ST8 & HOOSIC RIV

@ RT2/RT8 INTER.DOWNTOWN, Berkshire, MA

Built 1959 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 7,826

HWY EAST ST

Poor

Over: WATER TOPHET BROOK

300 WEST OF EAST ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1940 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,700

HWY CHACE RD

Poor

Over: ST140

1.2 MI S OF LAKEVIL T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1957 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 10,500

ST 31 RESERVOIR ST

Poor

Over: RR PWRR

.5 MI W OF ST-122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1983 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 11,497

HWY BRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER EASTERN CANAL

0.4 KM S RTE 110 & 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 25,862

ST 2 STATE RD

Poor

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

200 E OF NEW ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1934 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 15,200

ST 3 NB

Poor

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

AT NORWELL PEMBROKE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1961 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 37,081

ST 3 SB

Poor

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

AT NORWELL PEMBROKE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1961 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 32,900

ST119 MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WATER PEARL HILL BROOK

2.6 MI W OF ST-13, Middlesex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 8,358

HWY CREAMERY RD

Poor

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

0.18 M SE OF RT32, Worcester, MA

Built 1939 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 100

ST 31 N SPENCER RD

Poor

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

AT CORNER OF HASTINGS RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 5,299

HWY LYNN FLLS RP

Poor

Over: US 1 BROADWAY

.5 MI S OF WALNUT ST, Essex, MA

Built 1971 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 14,062

HWY BWKR NB OFRP

Poor

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.2 MI S OF ST RTE 2A, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 8,315

HWY FLYNT ST

Poor

Over: I 90

MM 64.5 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,422

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.2 MI S OF EXIT 43/RT140, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 36,570

ST125 CONN EB

Poor

Over: I 495

1 KM N METHUEN TOWN LINE, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 5,289

HWY SQUANTUM ST

Poor

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

2.4 KM S OF JCT I93&SR3A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 18,500

ST181 PALMER ST

Poor

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

0.4 MI N OF MAIN ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 11,897

HWY FEARING HILL

Poor

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

JUST N OF HORSESHOE POND, Plymouth, MA

Built 1900 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 9,300

Showing 4,951-5,000 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.