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

HWY PERKINS ROW

Poor

Over: WATER MILE BROOK

1 MILE SOUTH IPSWICH ROAD, Essex, MA

Built 1905 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 3,621

I 90 EX 90 INT 10

Poor

Over: ST 12 SOUTHBRIDGE ST

0.5 MI W OF I-290, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 50,341

I 90 EX 111 IN 12

Poor

Over: ST 9 WORCESTER RD

OUTSIDE INT 12 L12, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 25,868

I 290 EB

Poor

Over: HWY E CENTRAL ST

100 FT WEST OF MULBURY ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 65,611

HWY W FOURTH ST

Poor

Over: COMB HAUL RD & CSX

1219 M SW OF D ST OFFICE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1918 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 4,913

US 1 CONN RPS A&B

Poor

Over: I 95 /ST128

.2 MI E US1, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 55,500

I 90 EB

Poor

Over: ST 67 BOSTON RD

MM 66.5 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 24,667

HWY BLANDF STAGE

Poor

Over: WATER STAGE BROOK

1.2 MI WEST OF RTE 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 517

ST 16 MENDON ST

Poor

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

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

Built 1954 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 10,157

HWY JEFFERSON ST

Poor

Over: WATER SUCKER BROOK

0.2 MILES SE OF ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 390

I 495 NB

Poor

Over: HWY BOSTON RD

EXIT 83/N OF 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 53,253

I 495 SB

Poor

Over: HWY BOSTON RD

0.2 MI N OF ST-110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 55,292

I 90 EB

Poor

Over: ST 12 SOUTHBRIDGE ST

MM90.6 0.1 M E OF 290, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 44,041

HWY MAPLE ST

Poor

Over: I 495

1.2 MI SOUTH OF ST 126, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,148

HWY S RIVER RD

Poor

Over: WATER ALBEE BROOK

2.3 MI E OF E HAWLEY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 154

I 91 SB

Poor

Over: RR GWRR

MM 45.2 ON I91 SB, Franklin, MA

Built 1962 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 18,071

HWY ROLLSTONE ST

Poor

Over: RR BMRR

100 N OF ST12/2A/KIMBALL, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 8,600

I 495

Poor

Over: HWY MASSACHUSETTS AVE

.5 MI S MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 113,400

HWY JEFFRSON AV

Poor

Over: HWY PARALLEL ST

NEXT TO MBTA, Essex, MA

Built 1920 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 35,900

ST 16 EB/WSHGTN ST

Poor

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

AT INT 16 S17, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 15,517

US 6 GAR HWY

Poor

Over: WATER COLE RIVER

.9 MI SE OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1926 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 13,357

HWY UNION ST

Poor

Over: WATER NORTH CANAL

.32 KM NORTH MERRIMAC R, Essex, MA

Built 1860 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 16,435

HWY BYRON ST

Poor

Over: TR BLUE LINE

OVER BLUE LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1950 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,200

HWY AMESBURY ST

Poor

Over: WATER SOUTH CANAL

JUST S OF MERRIMACK RIV, Essex, MA

Built 1918 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 38,800

I 91 NB

Poor

Over: ST 2 WB ROTARY

MM 43.1 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1966 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 7,667

HWY PONTOOSUC

Poor

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

@ WAHCONAH ST INTERSECTIO, Berkshire, MA

Built 1993 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 2,845

HWY W ROXBRY PKY

Poor

Over: RR MBTA

.1 MI E OF BEACH ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1921 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 36,100

ST 3 SB

Poor

Over: I 93

ST 3 AT I 93, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 41,600

HWY VALLEY RD

Poor

Over: WATER PRINCE RIVER

0.5M W JCT RTS32/122&RT62, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 3,100

I 495 SB

Poor

Over: ST 28 NB/UNION ST

2.5 MI N I93, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 49,074

ST 28 FELLSWAY W

Poor

Over: I 93

RT 28 AT RT 93, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 168,392

ST116 ASHFIELD RD

Poor

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

AT ELDRIDGE RD., Franklin, MA

Built 1926 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,293

HWY COUNTY RD

Poor

Over: US 1 NE XWAY

1.1 KM SW OF JCT SR16, Suffolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 14,900

US 1 NEWBRPRT TPK

Poor

Over: I 95 /ST128

.25 MI N OF ST-129, Essex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 128,520

ST131 STHBRDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

0.4 MI N OF THOM. CT. T.L, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 6,839

HWY SPEEN ST SB

Poor

Over: ST 9 & RAMP A

0.9 MI W OF RT 27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1977 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 34,773

ST110 SB SMTH RTY

Poor

Over: HWY LOWELL-LWRNCE BLVD

WEST BRIDGE SMITH RTY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1954 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 5,690

ST117 MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WATER STILL RIVER

.1 MI E LANCASTER TWN LN, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 16,425

HWY BRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

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

Built 1955 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 100

HWY SHAWMUT AVE

Poor

Over: COMB I 90 & AMTRK/ORNG

.32 KM .S. OF BOS COM, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 10,100

ST 31 PRINCETON RD

Poor

Over: ST 2

MM94.5 / EXIT 95, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 6,854

ST123 E MAIN ST

Poor

Over: I 495

ST 123 AT I 495, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 11,800

I 495 UPPER LEVEL

Poor

Over: I 495 LOWER LEVEL

AT MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 104,295

ST 38 NB SMITH RTY

Poor

Over: HWY LOWELL-LWRNCE BLVD

EAST BRIDGE SMITH RTY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1954 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 13,060

HWY MILL ST

Poor

Over: WATER MCKINSTRY BROOK

300 FT SOUTH OF RIVER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1940 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 300

HWY SAVIN HLL AV

Poor

Over: TR RED LINE

0.2M E DORCHESTER AVE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1925 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 6,700

HWY CENTRAL ST

Poor

Over: WATER SHUMATUSCACANT RIV

.5 MI E OF RTE 18, Plymouth, MA

Built 1956 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 71,009

ST113 MAIN ST

Poor

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

0.1 MI ELY CANAL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 12,017

HWY BALCOM ST

Poor

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

.4 MI NE OF GILBERT ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1910 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 1,540

ST 2

Poor

Over: WATER WYMAN BROOK

94.5 MM, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 46,691

Showing 5,201-5,250 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.