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 93 NB BT 33-38

Fair

Over: I 93 SB BT 33-38

.6 MI N OF JCT I93&US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 81,000

HWY CENTER DEPOT

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 83.4, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 3,727

ST 16 RAMP

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.2 MI E OF SANTILLI CIR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1954 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 21,300

HWY BURNETT ST

Fair

Over: WATER BATCHELOR BROOK

0.36 M S OF RT 116, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,551

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: HWY WESTFIELD RD

MM 13.6 ON I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 50,043

HWY NB LOWLL CON

Fair

Over: RR CSX (ABANDONED)

1000 N OF INDUSTRIAL AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 20,716

HWY FR MORIS BLV

Fair

Over: WATER WESTERN CANAL

.32 KM S. OF MERRIMACK R, Middlesex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 18,000

HWY BLISS ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE BROOK

JUST SW OF RTE 32, Hampden, MA

Built 1850 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 4,784

HWY KENDRICK ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT NAHANTON STREET, Norfolk, MA

Built 1959 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 33,900

HWY SHIP POND RD

Fair

Over: ST 3 NB/PILGRIM HWY

.5 MI E OF LONG POND RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1957 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,164

HWY SUNRISE TERR

Fair

Over: WATER N BR MILL RIVER

150 E GRAYSON DR., Hampden, MA

Built 1934 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 8,017

ST 3 A/MORRSY BLV

Fair

Over: COMB NEPONSET AVE&RIVER

.2 MI E OF I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 76,500

ST110 /ST113/RIVER

Fair

Over: I 495

.6 KM N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 19,876

ST128 NB

Fair

Over: HWY PINE ST

.8 MI N MANCHESTER TOWN H, Essex, MA

Built 1953 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 21,218

ST128 SB

Fair

Over: HWY PINE ST

.8 MI N MANCHESTER TOWN H, Essex, MA

Built 1953 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 19,500

HWY BROAD ST

Fair

Over: I 495

BETWEEN EMERY & LUCUST ST, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 6,000

HWY SUTTON AVE

Fair

Over: I 395

.4 MI. E. OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1973 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 6,401

ST 67 BOSTON RD

Fair

Over: WATER KINGS BROOK

0.6 MI S OF I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1955 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,845

HWY WAHCONAH ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

AT TACONIC PARK DR INT, Berkshire, MA

Built 1951 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 12,155

US 20 W HOUSATONIC

Fair

Over: WATER SW BR HOUSATONIC R

NEAR E END HUNGERFORD ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1913 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 11,151

ST 49 PODUNK RD

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 79.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 8,790

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

2.5 MI S OF ST-133, Essex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 74,084

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

2.5 MI SOUTH OF RT 133, Essex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 77,340

I 90 EB RAMP ON D

Fair

Over: I 90

.1 MI S. CHARLES RV S111, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 21,594

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

0.7 MI N RTE 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 66,190

US 20 W MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER WALKER BROOK

@ HAMDEN ST INTERSECTION, Hampden, MA

Built 1924 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 2,342

ST140 S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER RUMFORD RIVER

.37 MI. NO. OF NORTON TL., Bristol, MA

Built 1928 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 28,429

HWY CONCORD ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

@ WESTON TL = W29007, Middlesex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 7,500

ST 28 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MARTINS BROOK

0.2 MI SLY RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1903 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 31,080

HWY PROVDENCE ST

Fair

Over: WATER PALMER RIVER

.3 MI W OF MASON ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1969 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 2,143

ST 6 A/CRNBRY HWY

Fair

Over: WATER MILL CREEK

1.5 M E OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1951 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 23,664

ST146 NB

Fair

Over: ST 16 DOUGLAS ST

2 MILES WEST OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1950 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 16,229

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: RR PCRR (ABANDONED)

.2 MI W OF ST 1A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 45,438

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST 62 CENTRAL ST

.25 MILES W OF HUDSON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1963 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 45,106

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: ST 62 CENTRAL ST

0.25 MI WEST OF HUDSON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1963 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 27,582

HWY SHORE RD

Fair

Over: WATER BACK RIVER

2 MI SW OF BOURNE BRIDGE, Barnstable, MA

Built 1931 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 10,800

I 91

Fair

Over: COMB CT R/GWRR & ST116

MM 8.5 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1966 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 85,066

ST106 GREEN ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 MI W.OF MANFIELD TL, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 9,143

ST 9 RAMP E

Fair

Over: ST 9 EB

.3 MILES WEST OF I-90, Middlesex, MA

Built 1989 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 2,700

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY SUMMER ST

MM40 .3 MI N OF WRNTM TL, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 41,841

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: HWY LINCOLN ST

0.5 MI N RT 2 & RT 95, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 196,500

HWY PLYMOUTH ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

MBTA MP32/010, Plymouth, MA

Built 1977 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 1,214

HWY PRESCOTT ST

Fair

Over: WATER NISSITISSIT RIVER

.6MI. N. OF BROOKLINE RD., Middlesex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 800

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: I 291 CONN A/B/C/D&RMP F

MM 0.7 ON I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 16,277

US 7 SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER KONKAPOT BROOK

1.3 MI N OF GT BAR TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1955 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 12,420

I 84 EB

Fair

Over: US 20 EB/CHARLTON RD

I-84 EB / US 20 EB, Worcester, MA

Built 1974 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 31,721

ST 2 A/ST101

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB

AT EXIT 83, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 13,000

HWY I90&I91 CON

Fair

Over: HWY PROSPECT AVE

0.2 M S OF HIGHLAND AVE, Hampden, MA

Built 1968 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 18,234

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY HAGGETTS POND RD

AT I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 60,500

HWY W SECOND ST

Fair

Over: COMB HAUL RD & MBTA RED

.8 KM SW D ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1918 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 8,146

Showing 851-900 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.