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 SB B10-B16

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1 MI N OF JCT I93&US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 57,435

I 90 WB RAMP OFF

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

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

Built 1965 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 17,948

HWY PAPER MLL RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

150 N OF INT NEWTON ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 1,140

HWY P DELGADA BL

Fair

Over: COMB ST 138/RR(ABANDON)

AT ST 138, Bristol, MA

Built 1952 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 1,143

HWY SARGEANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER SECOND LEVEL CANAL

AT INT OF RACE/SARGEANT, Hampden, MA

Built 1850 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 3,879

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY COMMONWEALTH DR

.4 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 62,100

HWY RUSSELL ST

Fair

Over: I 495

@MM 79.7 0.5 MI NE OF 2A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 400

HWY WOOD ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.5 M S OF ST 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1850 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 3,100

HWY N LOOMIS ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUNN BROOK

2 MI N OF GRANVILLE RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 1,293

HWY ARMORY ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX (ABANDONED)

S JCT OF ALBANY ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1934 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 20,285

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST150

AT EXIT 54, Essex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 31,856

HWY E BATTLES ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.8 MI E OF ST 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1980 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 1,693

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST 31 CITY DEPOT RD

I-90 MM 82.6, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 50,891

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

0.16 KM N OF DEDHAM ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1922 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 10,100

HWY FOURTH ST

Fair

Over: I 195

AT JCT PLEASANT STREET, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 22,000

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: ST108 NEWTON RD

.7 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 65,000

ST125 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 495 & SNOWS BRK

7.8 KM N ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 26,548

HWY LAWRENCE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

JUST W OF CEMETERY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 9,600

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST109 MEDWAY RD

1 MI. S. OF ST-16, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 38,682

US 1 PROVDNCE HWY

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.25 MI S OF DEAN ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1960 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 40,571

ST 24

Fair

Over: HWY S ELM ST

1 MI N BRIDGEWATER T L, Plymouth, MA

Built 1953 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 104,009

I 90 MAINT RAMP

Fair

Over: I 90

4.8 KM W. ST128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 300

HWY BROWN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

N OF JCT RTE202, Worcester, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 2,069

HWY ANDOVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

1 MI NE TEWKSBURY, Essex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 4,691

ST 8 S STATE RD

Fair

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

.32MI S. OF LANSBORO RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1927 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 12,714

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: HWY NORTH AVE

1.4 MI NELY RT 28, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 134,371

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.4 MI NLY RT 129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 87,100

HWY RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

.8 M SE OF RTE 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 12,900

HWY RAMP X/XX

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 11,638

I 391

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

MM 4.5 ON I-391, Hampden, MA

Built 1979 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 36,130

US 1 NB/NEWBRY ST

Fair

Over: I 95

.5 MI N OF ST-62, Essex, MA

Built 1972 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 24,200

ST116 SUNDERLAND R

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

SUNDERLAND BRIDGE, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 21,000

HWY HOWLAND RD

Fair

Over: WATER ACUSHNET RIVER

AT NEW BEDFORD LINE, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 15,588

ST127 A/THATCHER

Fair

Over: WATER MARSH CREEK

JUST N OF LONG BEACH, Essex, MA

Built 1921 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 10,800

HWY SMITHS LN

Fair

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

.5 MI N OF PLYMOUTH TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 27,400

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEMASKET RIVER

0.7 M EAST OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1968 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 3,644

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: US 1 WASHINGTON ST

I 495 AT US 1, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 46,400

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: ST 28 MAIN ST

RT 128 AT RT 28, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 16,090

US 20 BSTN POST RD

Fair

Over: WATER HOP BROOK

AT CORNER OF STATION RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1947 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 15,158

HWY BACON ST

Fair

Over: WATER ABERJONA RIVER

1.13 KM W OF MEDFORD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1920 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 15,776

HWY BARNUM RD

Fair

Over: WATER BOWERS BROOK

0.1MI S OF ST-110 ROTARY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1941 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 4,820

ST128

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA & TOZER RD

0.3 MI E OF ST-97/1A, Essex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 72,449

HWY TITICUT ST

Fair

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

.1 MI NORTH OF PLYMOUTH S, Plymouth, MA

Built 1850 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 571

HWY CARLISLE ST

Fair

Over: I 495

1.6 KM E RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 5,200

HWY HEATH RD

Fair

Over: WATER TAYLOR BROOK

1 MILE W OF MAXAM RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 517

ST116 S DEERFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

.4 M NORTH OF CONWAY CTR., Franklin, MA

Built 1925 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 2,633

HWY UPPER RD

Fair

Over: WATER DEERFIELD RIVER

200 N INT STILWATER RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1949 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 1,300

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: I 195

AT I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 9,500

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: I 495

@MM 41.5 / N OF EXIT 41, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 2,200

HWY NEW LDLOW RD

Fair

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

.6 MI E OF S HADLEY LINE, Hampshire, MA

Built 1940 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 8,000

Showing 901-950 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.