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 JEFFERSON ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

1.6 KM SW OF RT 3, Norfolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 1,681

ST169 SOUTHBRDG RD

Fair

Over: WATER CADY BROOK

.6 MI N OF SOUTHBRIDGE TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 11,103

I 91

Fair

Over: HWY WN RAMP

MILE MARKER 0.4 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 84,000

I 91 NB/ST2 EB

Fair

Over: HWY COUNTRY CLUB RD

MM 45.4 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1962 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 12,109

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER WINNETUXET RIVER

43K, Plymouth, MA

Built 1931 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 850

ST 8 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

@ INT W/ VERGE ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1924 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 3,879

HWY WOOD ST

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

3.2K M S JCT I93 & SR3A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 10,862

HWY STATE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE BROOK

E OF RT32 IN MONSON CTR, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 517

ST 2 A/W ORANGE R

Fair

Over: WATER MOSS BROOK

AT INT WENDELL DEPOT RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1909 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 3,651

HWY MEDFORD ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.7 MI SW OF JCT SR28&38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1910 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 14,800

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST183 INTERLAKEN RD

AT MM 5.4, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 9,477

HWY NORTHFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

1.6 MI E OF SCHOOL ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 647

US 5

Fair

Over: ST 57 W TRAFFIC CIR

.1 MI SE OF WESTFIELD RIV, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 36,983

ST112 EAST MAIN ST

Fair

Over: COMB CSX & WESTFLD RIV

300NE OF JCT W/US RTE 20, Hampshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 8,250

HWY AIKEN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT MERRIMACK RIVER, Middlesex, MA

Built 1883 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 26,000

ST119 SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER TRIB

600 N OF GROTON TL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1910 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 13,298

I 93 NB/US1NB

Fair

Over: ST 24 SB

I 93 AT ST 24, Norfolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 62,613

ST116

Fair

Over: WATER EASTMAN BROOK

.7 M S SUND-AMHERST T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 13,876

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: HWY S BEDFORD ST

0.5 MI SW RT 95 & RT 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 92,706

HWY SAND MILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER DRY BROOK

.2 MI SOUTH OF RTE 116, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 259

ST116 ST141/CABOT

Fair

Over: COMB CONN RIV & PVRR

AT CHICOPEE-HOLYOKE T.L., Hampden, MA

Built 1891 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 18,700

ST116 S DEERFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

AT INT. WITH MAPLE STREET, Franklin, MA

Built 1978 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 2,633

US 1 NB/NEWBRY ST

Fair

Over: ST114 ANDOVER ST

1.6 MI S ST62, Essex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 24,220

US 1 SB/NEWBRY ST

Fair

Over: ST114 ANDOVER ST

1.6 MI S ST62, Essex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 20,656

HWY HIGHBANK RD

Fair

Over: WATER BASS RIVER

AT BASS RIVER, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 20,900

HWY LINDEN ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

AT INT. OF JOHN ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1982 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 7,888

ST140 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARREN BROOK

130 FT S OF MECHANIC ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1928 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 10,105

HWY GILBERT RD

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 67.9 ON I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 200

ST 12 MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

.1 MI N OF MAIN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1931 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 7,443

HWY HILLSVLLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER FIVE MILE RIVER

CORNER OF KITTTREDGE RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 1,600

HWY I90&I91 CON

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP F TO I90

AT I90 EXIT 45 RAMP, Hampden, MA

Built 1968 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 12,672

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

230 N OF RTE 9 AT N MAIN, Hampshire, MA

Built 1913 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 2,365

US 7 NEW ASHFORD

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

0.2M S. OF ROARING BRK RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 4,805

US 6 WB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: HWY PHINNEYS LN

2.5 M E OF OAK ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 18,973

ST 23 OTIS STGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER PEEBLE BROOK

50 E OF BEECH HILL ROAD, Hampden, MA

Built 1930 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 1,552

HWY FRNKLN HILL

Fair

Over: WATER E BR NORTH RIVER

600 E OF INT W/ RT112, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 129

HWY CRANE ST

Fair

Over: OTHER STEAMSHP AUTH PKG

.1MI S. OF WOODS HOLE RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 8,000

HWY HILLMAN ST

Fair

Over: ST 18 & RAMP A

.2 MI NW OF US 6, Bristol, MA

Built 1973 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 13,500

ST 9 BOYLSTON ST

Fair

Over: HWY HAMMOND POND PKWY

5.3 KM ELY RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1933 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 40,758

HWY HAMMOND PD

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

.32 KM S OF BEACON ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1933 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 28,300

US 1 BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER SAUGUS RIVER

OVER SAUGUS RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1918 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 119,939

ST112 CLARK RD

Fair

Over: WATER BRONSON BROOK

AT CLARK HILL RD INT., Hampshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 600

HWY WESTERN AVE

Fair

Over: HWY SOLDIERS FIELD RD

.32 KM N OF CAMB ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 20,172

ST 9 /ST112

Fair

Over: WATER SWIFT RIVER

.1 M E JCT SWIFT RIV RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1913 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 4,267

ST110 /RTE3A/CHMFD

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

15.2 M E OF THORNDIKE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1971 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 50,300

HWY WEST ST

Fair

Over: WATER HIGHER BROOK

.5 MI N OF RTE 90, Hampden, MA

Built 1929 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 10,474

I 95 RAMP G

Fair

Over: I 95 RAMP J

.7 MI S FOREST STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1988 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 4,200

ST 23 BLANDFORD RD

Fair

Over: WATER POTASH BROOK

1.4 MI W OF US 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1915 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 2,887

I 90

Fair

Over: HWY LANE QUARRY RD

MM 43.0 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 45,776

US 1 NB/L MYSTC L

Fair

Over: HWY CHELSEA STREET

L MYSTIC LOWER, Suffolk, MA

Built 1950 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 41,951

Showing 551-600 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.