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 28 S ORLEANS RD

Fair

Over: WATER SALT MARSH CREEK

.5 MI E OF BREWSTER TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1954 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 13,000

ST129 LOWELL ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.1 MI ELY WILMINGTON T.L, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 28,448

HWY OLD MAIN R#2

Fair

Over: WATER DROWNED LAND BROOK

EAST OF 8A SOUTH OF 116, Berkshire, MA

Built 1932 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 129

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.5M SE OF RTE 116, Hampden, MA

Built 1925 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 17,844

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

.1 MI S OF RTE 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 8,664

HWY EAST ST

Fair

Over: I 95 /US1/ST128

1.2 KM SE OF US 1, Norfolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 18,103

HWY HOLDEN ST

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.2MI.N OF ST 123, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 19,138

ST152 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

HEBRONVILLE RR #193.89, Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 5,857

HWY MAVERICK ST

Fair

Over: OTHER PEDESTRIAN WLKWY

AT INT OF BRENAN AND MAV, Suffolk, MA

Built 1908 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 6,456

HWY GREENLDGE ST

Fair

Over: I 95

.16 KM SW OF ST128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 300

ST 27 HIGH PLN ST

Fair

Over: I 95 SB

ST 27 AT I 95 SB, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 8,689

HWY WALNUT ST

Fair

Over: WATER COWESSETT BROOK

.2 MI E OF EASTON, Plymouth, MA

Built 1967 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 2,700

HWY CONNECTOR RD

Fair

Over: ST 9 TURNPIKE RD

.5 MI. W OF I-495, Worcester, MA

Built 1974 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 6,387

ST 88 NB

Fair

Over: US 6 STATE RD

.5 MI S OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 14,163

ST 88 SB

Fair

Over: US 6 STATE RD

.5 MI S OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 6,286

ST 9 /ST12/PARK

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

1MI W. OF ST. 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1910 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 36,400

HWY SOUTH ROTARY

Fair

Over: ST 99 SULLIVAN SQ UNDRPS

1.6 KM N OF N WSHNGTON ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 27,025

HWY WARNER BLVD

Fair

Over: WATER THREE MILE RIVER

1 MI SOUTH OF ST 44, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 2,428

HWY LEYDEN RD

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 44.5 I-91, Franklin, MA

Built 1962 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 3,362

I 90 EXIT 63 RAMP

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 62.6 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 14,095

I 190 NB & ON RMP

Fair

Over: HWY WOODLAND ST

200 FT. W. OF PHEASANT HL, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 20,399

I 91

Fair

Over: HWY EAST LOOP

MM 8.9 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1966 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 73,585

US 5

Fair

Over: HWY ACCESS RD

.09 MI S OF W SPRINGFIELD, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 289,666

ST 63 MONTAGUE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.1 M N JCT SUNDERLAND RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1946 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 4,748

HWY NEPNST V PKY

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.16 KM E OF TRUMAN HWY, Suffolk, MA

Built 1849 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 23,300

HWY HILLDALE AVE

Fair

Over: I 495 SB

2.4 KM NORTH ST 110, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 6,500

HWY ENDICOTT ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.1 MI SW OF RTE 114, Essex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 9,500

HWY QUAKER DRIVE

Fair

Over: WATER E BR SWIFT RIVER

0.1 MI E OF RT122/32, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 129

HWY HOSMER RD

Fair

Over: WATER WILLARD BROOK

150 FT SOUTH OF RTE 119, Middlesex, MA

Built 1935 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 200

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: WATER PRINCE RIVER

0.6 MI NE OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1935 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 2,450

HWY N POLAND RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

JUST S OF RTE 116, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 776

HWY DANIELS ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

AT ROTARY OF 12 AND 2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1906 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 10,300

ST 9 USMC LGE HWY

Fair

Over: WATER STONES BROOK

100 E JCT SPRUCE COR RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1950 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 5,458

HWY GRT PLN AVE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.16 KM W DEDHAM AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1900 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 5,560

HWY WARWICK RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

1.75 MI N OF ST MARYS ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 905

ST129 WALNUT ST

Fair

Over: US 1 BROADWAY

.8 KM N LYNN FELLS PKWY, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 34,267

HWY HOPKINS ST

Fair

Over: I 95 /ST128

0.3 MI NELY RT 28, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 5,043

HWY WATER ST

Fair

Over: WATER PLUMBUSH CREEK

0.2 MI SE OF ELM ST, Essex, MA

Built 1990 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 350

HWY BROADWAY

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA/ST & FT PT C

0.5 KM SE JCT I93 & 190, Suffolk, MA

Built 1996 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 26,900

ST 62 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

4.8 KM SW RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 11,167

HWY WILSON RD

Fair

Over: ST 24

.5 FROM HIGHLAND AVE, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 4,600

HWY RACE ST

Fair

Over: WATER THIRD LEVEL CANAL

400 NE OF SOUTH STREET, Hampden, MA

Built 1850 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 905

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB

.2 MI N OF MECHANIC ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1975 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 14,173

HWY MERRIMACK ST

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK CANAL

AT DUTTON ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1823 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 20,520

HWY MERRIMACK ST

Fair

Over: WATER WESTERN CANAL

AT SUFFOLK ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1831 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 17,900

HWY DEPOT ST

Fair

Over: WATER DEERFIELD RIVER

AT ROWE LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 1992 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 400

HWY SLMN PND RD

Fair

Over: I 290

AT EXIT 30 I-290, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 8,305

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

200 E INT BRIDGE ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1948 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 7,200

I 93 SB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: I 93 CONNECTORS

3.2 KM N OF JCT I93&US1, Middlesex, MA

Built 1973 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 13,300

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: HWY VALE ST

0.1 MI SLY ANDOVER T.L., Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 137,300

Showing 751-800 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.