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 STALLION HLL

Fair

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

S OF RT20 @ OL STUR VLLGE, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 2,600

HWY TRM B DEP RD

Fair

Over: HWY LOGAN TRM B ARR RD

TERM B DEPART, Suffolk, MA

Built 1979 Load: 12.9 t

HWY EMBKT WB OFF

Fair

Over: HWY EMBKNT EB&WB ON RP

CHARLES CIRCLE STORROW D, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 13,190

ST 57 SANDISFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER BUCK RIVER

.6 MI NW OF BEECH PLAIN R, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 13.1 t ADT: 905

HWY HEATH RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR NORTH RIVER

W OF ADAMSVILLE RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 13.2 t ADT: 388

HWY G WSHNGTN BL

Fair

Over: WATER WEIR RIVER

AT HINGHAM HULL TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1987 Load: 13.2 t ADT: 25,474

US 3 MEMORIAL DR

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.32 KM E OF MAGAZINE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 41,897

I 91

Fair

Over: ST116 MAIN ST (N END)

MM 7.4 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 13.5 t ADT: 98,600

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: COMB STHBRG ST & MDL R

.5 MI. EAST OF HOPE AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1966 Load: 13.5 t ADT: 37,171

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: COMB STHBRG ST & MDL R

.5 MI E OF HOPE AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1966 Load: 13.5 t ADT: 37,781

HWY OTIS ST

Fair

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

1 MI SE OF JCT SCHOOL ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1900 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 1,422

HWY PMROY MEADOW

Fair

Over: WATER N BR MANHAN RIVER

1MI NW OF RT10 @SHMTN LIN, Hampshire, MA

Built 1964 Load: 14.1 t ADT: 3,362

HWY DIKE RD

Fair

Over: WATER POUCHA POND

.7MI E OF WILLETT LANE, Dukes, MA

Built 1995 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 214

HWY PARK ST

Fair

Over: OTHER MANHAN RAIL TRAIL

.5 M S JCT ST 10, Hampshire, MA

Built 1900 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 13,488

HWY MAY ST

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BRK/SEWER

.25 MI W OF PARK AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1908 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 7,670

HWY SODOM ST

Fair

Over: WATER DICKINSON BROOK

.1 MI. S OF INT. W/ RTE57, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 129

HWY GEORGE ST

Fair

Over: HWY COPLAND DR

NEXT TO RAIL; OLD RTE 140, Bristol, MA

Built 1954 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 857

HWY CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

.25 MI W OF RTE 32, Hampshire, MA

Built 1937 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 4,267

HWY HAYWARD ST

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

1 MI E OF RTE 18, Plymouth, MA

Built 1946 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 2,000

HWY MERIDIAN ST

Fair

Over: ST 24

AT ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 3,486

I 90

Fair

Over: COMB CSX/US20/WESTFLD R

RUSSELL TWN LINE D1, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 30,010

HWY CLARK WRIGHT

Fair

Over: WATER GLENDALE BROOK

1.1MI N OF INT W/ MAIN RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 129

HWY HEMENWAY RD

Fair

Over: WATER BRADFORD BROOK

100 FT S. JCT ASHFIELD RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1930 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 129

HWY COVE ST

Fair

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

0.2 MI S OF RT-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1950 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 75

HWY TOWN HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER FACTORY BROOK

1500 S OF RESERVOIR RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1911 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 300

HWY N DENNIS RD

Fair

Over: US 6 MID CAPE HWY

3.8 M E OF WILLOW ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1954 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 12,414

ST122 N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

.1 MI N OF HRTFD AV, Worcester, MA

Built 1952 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 11,191

HWY GIBBS RD

Fair

Over: WATER DIMMOCK BROOK

@ RTE 23 INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 388

GOODNOW ROAD

Fair

Over: PRIEST BROOK

16.09 KM N OF GARDNER, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 50

HWY TAYLOR BK RD

Fair

Over: WATER DAVENPORT BROOK

0.3M W OF COLRAIN STAGE R, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 120

HWY GILBERT RD

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

AT INT W RT67&MAIN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1888 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 260

HWY LNG PND RD

Fair

Over: US 6 MID CAPE HWY

.2 MI E OF MAIN ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1949 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 776

ST 66 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER SODOM BROOK

.1 MI E OF JCT SOUTH RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1946 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 2,500

HWY CHENEY DRIVE

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

0.8 KM N. OF BRIDGE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1897 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 1,810

ST 83 NB RAMP Z

Fair

Over: I 91 & ST83 SB

AT JCT I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1958 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 5,100

ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: SPILLWAY CHANNEL

12.9 KM S OF GARDNER, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 75

HWY HOUSATONIC

Fair

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

.5 M E OF RTE 9, Berkshire, MA

Built 1924 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 7,198

ST122 WORCESTER RD

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

BARRE-OAKHAM TOWN LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1954 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,069

HWY OAK ST

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

.2 MI N OF ST 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1880 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 650

HWY RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

150 FT. S. OF HUDSON ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 1,050

ST119 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER SQUANNACOOK RIVER

0.2 MI WLY RT 13, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 10,140

HWY CONE HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER CONE BROOK

200 N INT SWAMP RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 16.6 t ADT: 905

HWY NORTH RD

Fair

Over: WATER N BR MANHAN RIVER

.1 MI SW OF KINGS HWY, Hampshire, MA

Built 1941 Load: 16.6 t ADT: 905

HWY CAMPBEL FALL

Fair

Over: WATER WHITING RIVER

1 MI WEST OF NORFOLK RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 16.7 t ADT: 129

ST 49 PODUNK BLVD

Fair

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

.2 MI. S. OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1972 Load: 16.7 t ADT: 6,176

ST 9 BERKSHIRE TR

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

100 W JCT W MAIN ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 2,820

HWY WASH MTN RD

Fair

Over: WATER WASHNGTN MTN BROOK

BTWN MILL ST&WOODLND RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1936 Load: 16.9 t ADT: 388

HWY POCHASSIC RD

Fair

Over: WATER MOOSE MEADOW BROOK

S OF MASPKE OPASS NR RSSL, Hampden, MA

Built 1939 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 129

HWY LOWER COUNTY

Fair

Over: WATER SWAN POND RIVER

.1 MI E OF SWAN POND RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1955 Load: 17.1 t ADT: 12,100

HWY PARKER AVE

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

.3 MI NE OF MAMMOTH RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 17.1 t ADT: 6,000

Showing 51-100 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.