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

ST 3 NB/PLGRM HWY

Poor

Over: HWY FRANKLIN ST

2 MI E OF PEMBROKE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 34,314

ST 3 SB/PLGRM HWY

Poor

Over: HWY FRANKLIN ST

2 MI E OF PEMBROKE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 35,142

HWY HARTWELL ST

Poor

Over: RR BMRR

.1 MI E OF SHREWSBURY ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1908 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 150

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: RR PAN AM

0.25 MI S OF ST-38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 64,233

I 90 RAMPS A & B

Poor

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT INT 14 L50, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 80,100

HWY TIHONET RD

Poor

Over: ST 25

0.7 M E OF RTE 195, Plymouth, MA

Built 1967 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 1,071

ST 10 NORTHFLD RD

Poor

Over: I 91

MM 50.3 ON I-91, Franklin, MA

Built 1959 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 8,680

HWY SOUTH ST E

Poor

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

RAYNHAM-TAUNTON TOWNLINE, Bristol, MA

Built 1945 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 7,900

ST 28 MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WATER BASS RIVER

AT DENNIS YARMOUTH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1935 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,407

HWY SALISBURY ST

Poor

Over: RR PWRR

400 FT SOUTH OF RTE 122-A, Worcester, MA

Built 1907 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,509

HWY WARREN RD

Poor

Over: WATER LONG POND INLET

700 FT W OF BROOKFIELD RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1950 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,740

HWY QUARRY RD

Poor

Over: WATER CUSHMAN BROOK

.25MI. S. OF INT.W/RTE 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 120

HWY CAMBRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.64 KM E OF N HARVARD ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1925 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 33,400

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: ST110 CHELMSFORD ST

RT 495 AT RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 55,955

I 495 SB

Poor

Over: I 90

2.2 MI N OF ST-135, Middlesex, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 42,619

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

1.4 MI SO. OF ST 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 46,713

HWY WALWORTH ST

Poor

Over: RR MBTA

JUST N OF BELGRADE AVE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1918 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,216

HWY ADAMSVLLE RD

Poor

Over: WATER VINCENT BROOK

1M N OF ED CLARK, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 388

HWY NORTH ST

Poor

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

.2 MI E OF GREENWICH RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,422

ST 12 NB/W BYLSTN

Poor

Over: RR PWRR/BMRR

.2 MI E OF I-190, Worcester, MA

Built 1936 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,028

HWY CAMBRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: COMB I 90 & MBTA/CSX

.2 MI W.RAILROAD YDS S101, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 31,600

I 91 SB

Poor

Over: COMB US 5 & GWRR

MM 22.8 ON I-91, Hampshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 29,780

I 91 SB

Poor

Over: HWY HOCKANUM RD

MM 23.1 ON I-91 NB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 29,398

HWY WAHCONAH ST

Poor

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

AT PITTSFLD CEMETERY ENTR, Berkshire, MA

Built 1970 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 10,214

HWY PARK AVE

Poor

Over: US 1 NE XWAY

01.2 KM N OF JCT SR16, Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 3,900

I 95 NB

Poor

Over: OTHER MBTA - BIKE TRAIL

.1 MI N OF LOWELL STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1974 Load: 32.9 t ADT: 36,615

US 44 HARDING ST

Poor

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.5 M W OF EVERETT ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1963 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 31,681

HWY PARK ST

Poor

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

MP 24.723, Norfolk, MA

Built 1986 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 9,827

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT METHUEN TOWN LINE, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 60,056

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: ST 28 SB/N MAIN ST

2.4 MI N I93, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 95,100

HWY OLD COLDBRK

Poor

Over: WATER PRINCE RIVER

300 E OF VALLEY RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 259

HWY KEYES HLL RD

Poor

Over: WATER UMPACHENE RIVER

0.1MI E OF CNAN-STHFLD RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 129

ST103 WILBUR AVE

Poor

Over: WATER COLES RIVER

1.7MI E OF R.I.S.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1957 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 11,644

ST 9 EAST MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

AT INT GROVE ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1870 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 15,517

I 95 NB

Poor

Over: I 95 /US1/ST128

I 95 AT ST 128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 27,543

I 495 SB

Poor

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT METHUEN TOWN LINE, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 66,888

HWY SB LOWLL CON

Poor

Over: I 495

1 MI E OF ST-110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 11,576

HWY LWLL CN B-10

Poor

Over: HWY LOWEL CON RAMP B8

RAMP B-10/RAMP B-8, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 8,500

ST 56 LEICESTER RD

Poor

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.2 MI S OF LEICESTER T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1964 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 6,656

I 95 SB

Poor

Over: OTHER MBTA - BIKE TRAIL

.1 MI N LOWELL STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1974 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 42,634

HWY S WALPOLE ST

Poor

Over: I 95 NB

1 MI W OF JCT. MAIN ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 3,000

ST 32 PALMER RD

Poor

Over: COMB CHCPEE BRK & NECRR

300 S OF INT BETHANY RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1937 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 12,155

HWY ROOSEVELT AV

Poor

Over: I 291 /US20

MM 4.0 I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 1969 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 42,672

HWY CHANDLER RD

Poor

Over: I 93

NORTH I 495, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,954

ST 9 HUNTINGTN AV

Poor

Over: COMB I 90 & MBTA/CSX

.1 MI S.PRU CENTER S57, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 19,200

I 195

Poor

Over: ST 18 ASHLEY BLVD

.25 MI E OF PENNIMAN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 66,254

ST 16 WB/WSHGTN ST

Poor

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

AT INT 16 S16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 18,491

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: HWY TADMUCK RD

0.4 MI N OF RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 97,289

I 93 BT SB4-N ABT

Poor

Over: HWY CONNECTORS D & K

1.9 KM N OF JCT. US1&I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 73,094

I 495 SB

Poor

Over: HWY MIDDLE RD

1.6 KM N ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 32,629

Showing 5,101-5,150 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.