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 MOUNTAIN DR

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 30.8 ON I-91, Hampshire, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 1,164

HWY HILLDALE AVE

Fair

Over: I 495 NB

2.4 KM N ST 110, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 6,500

ST122 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASNEBUMSKIT BROOK

500 FT E OF CAUSEWAY ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1948 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 13,591

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST 85 CEDAR ST

1 MI. N. OF ST.16, Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 51,016

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: RR GWRR & NECRR

AT JCT S PROSPECT ST., Franklin, MA

Built 1897 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 2,500

I 91

Fair

Over: HWY MAIN ST (S END)

MM 4.5 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1963 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 91,200

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY GREENLAND RD

@ MM 10.6, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 18,117

HWY IRELAND ST

Fair

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

@ ROUTE 112 INTERSECTION, Hampshire, MA

Built 1950 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 259

US 6 EB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

1.8 M E OF WILLOW ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1970 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 29,142

HWY CHANDLER RD

Fair

Over: I 495 NB

GREENWOOD AT I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 8,800

HWY WHITNEY AVE

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 11.9 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 13,344

I 93

Fair

Over: ST213 WB

2.3 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 120,514

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY HAVEN ST

.9 MI S OF HOPKINTON T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 51,670

US 7 NEW ASHFORD

Fair

Over: WATER THOMPSON BROOK

AT WHITE RD INT, Berkshire, MA

Built 1955 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 4,849

ST 1 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

ADJACENT TO NORTH STREET, Norfolk, MA

Built 1911 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 15,857

I 90 EB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: OTHER MDC AQUEDUCT

ON MASS PIKE OFF RAMP, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 31,700

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: COMB ACCESS RD & BMRR

.25 MI WEST OF LINCOLN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 43,744

HWY GREENWOOD RD

Fair

Over: I 495 NB

GREENWOOD AT I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,700

HWY CROSS RD

Fair

Over: WATER WATATIC LAKE OUTLT

0.1M NE OF LAKE RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 130

HWY QUINCY SHORE

Fair

Over: ST 3 A/HNCK NB&MBTA&RED

.2 MI E OF I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 33,000

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1 M E OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1977 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 13,000

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

1 MI WEST OF ST 3 A, Plymouth, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 11,100

HWY THIRD ST

Fair

Over: I 195

AT CITY HALL, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 7,000

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: HWY LEOMINSTER CONN

.5 MI. S. ST. 13, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 21,768

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY SCHOOL ST

2 MI E OF I 95, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 49,643

HWY FOREST ST

Fair

Over: I 495

@MM 62.5 .6 MI S OF US20, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,600

HWY PHILLIPS RD

Fair

Over: ST140

1.5 MI S OF BRALEY RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 11,300

HWY W SQUANTM ST

Fair

Over: HWY NEWPORT AVE

AT N. QUINCY T STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 28,200

HWY W SQU OFF RP

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

AT N. QUINCY T STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,939

I 95 SB CONN TOLL

Fair

Over: I 95

.6 MI S OF NH STATE LINE, Essex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,200

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY S WALPOLE ST

1.2 MI N OF FOXBORO T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1962 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 48,500

ST147 EB/MEM AVE

Fair

Over: US 5 RIVERDALE ST

AT JCT US 5 & MEMORIAL AV, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 10,893

HWY CRANE HLL RD

Fair

Over: WATER TWELVE MILE BROOK

0.3MI S OF RT20 NR I90, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 776

HWY DERBY ST

Fair

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

.3 MI E OF WEYMOUTH TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 51,077

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: I 90 RAMPS INT 10

.7 MI W. MAPLE ST A16, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 7,182

I 395 NB

Fair

Over: WATER LOWES POND

.4M S. OF SUTTON AVE., Worcester, MA

Built 1973 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 21,321

ST 28 CRANBRRY HWY

Fair

Over: I 195

0.5 M S OF TOBY RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1971 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 44,200

ST 62 MIDDLESEX AV

Fair

Over: I 93

RT 62 AT RT 93, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 19,200

HWY MERIDIAN ST

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

AT JCT OF DFLD ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1917 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 1,121

I 90 EXIT 54 RAMP

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 54.8 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 14,740

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: ST 16 E MAIN ST

.5 MI. N. OF ST-109, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 47,316

ST 56 LEICESTER ST

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.1 MI.WEST OF ST.12, Worcester, MA

Built 1971 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 6,500

HWY WHITEHALL RD

Fair

Over: WATER LONG MEADOW BROOK

1.4 M N OF ST122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1945 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 600

HWY CONCORD ST

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.2 MI NORTH OF FRONT ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1920 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 1,551

US 20 PALMER RD

Fair

Over: WATER FOSKETT MILL STRM

0.2 MI E OF PALMER TL, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 8,081

HWY LOWELL RD

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

2.0 MI N RTE 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 12,000

ST240

Fair

Over: I 195

1M N OF RTE 6, Bristol, MA

Built 1972 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 11,854

HWY FOREST ST

Fair

Over: WATER DIX BROOK

@ INST. OF ROBIN HOOD LN, Norfolk, MA

Built 1989 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 2,160

ST 8 A/W HWLEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER CHICKLEY RIVER

.2 MI S OF CHARLEMONT LIN, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 399

ST113 LOWLL & OSGD

Fair

Over: TR METHUEN RAILTRAIL

.32 KM W ST28, Essex, MA

Built 1983 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 28,000

Showing 951-1,000 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.