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 MT PLSNT ST

Fair

Over: ST140

1.3 MI NE OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1970 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 11,285

HWY HALE ST

Fair

Over: I 95

1 MI S OF ST-113, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 5,650

COMB US 1 & ELM S

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

INT.US1&ELM, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 24,560

ST 27 HIGH PLN ST

Fair

Over: I 95 NB

ST 27 AT I 95 NB, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 8,689

I 84 WB

Fair

Over: US 20 EB/CHARLTON RD

1.1 MI S OF I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1973 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 33,044

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: HWY BACON ST

.25 MI N OF ST-2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 25,320

HWY E MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER E BR MILL RIVER

@ VALLEY VIEW RD INT, Hampshire, MA

Built 1972 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 905

ST122 A/VERNON ST

Fair

Over: I 290

.1 MI E OF KELLY SQ, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 14,600

HWY LAKE RD

Fair

Over: WATER RICE POND OUTLET

.2 MI E OF ST-148, Worcester, MA

Built 1939 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 2,300

I 391 NB SB RAMP

Fair

Over: WATER N BR CHICOPEE RIV

MM 1.8 ON I-391, Hampden, MA

Built 1979 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 26,000

HWY N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST 79

1.7 MI S OF ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1958 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 12,142

ST112 WORTHGTN RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

4.0 MI N. OF US ROUTE 20, Hampshire, MA

Built 1940 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 3,245

HWY MNT PLSNT ST

Fair

Over: I 195

.2 MI WEST OF ST 18, Bristol, MA

Built 1963 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 7,195

HWY PLM ISLN TPK

Fair

Over: WATER PLUM ISLAND RIVER

.75 MI WEST ATLANTIC OCN, Essex, MA

Built 1973 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 8,984

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: ST 56 LEICESTER ST

NEAR TEXAS POND J8, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 44,233

HWY WOODBRDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER BATCHELOR BROOK

1500 S OF PEARL STREET, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 646

I 291 LINE N

Fair

Over: HWY MAIN ST & OTHERS

BET MAIN ST. & I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1969 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 20,000

HWY OTTR RIV RD

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB

MM 83.9 ON ST 2 EB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 905

ST 2 EB

Fair

Over: HWY BACON ST

.25 MILES NORTH OF ST 2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 28,212

HWY OAK ST

Fair

Over: I 90

I-90 MM 122, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 5,800

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: ST 70 LINCOLN ST

.25 MI. E OF BURNCOAT ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 31.2 t ADT: 49,604

HWY CORBETT ST

Fair

Over: I 495

2 MI N I93, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 2,600

HWY FRONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

HARVARD-SHIRLEY TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1948 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 6,533

HWY WINTHROP ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.9 KM NW OF JCT I93&SR16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1984 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 20,172

ST 32 PALMER RD

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

AT PALMER TL, Hampden, MA

Built 1924 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 9,828

ST 8 BEAVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

@ MCAULEY RD INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1948 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 3,057

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST 56 LEICESTER ST

NEAR TEXAS POND J8, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 45,702

HWY TRULL RD

Fair

Over: I 495

0.6 MI N RTE 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 1,990

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST 9 TURNPIKE RD

1 MI.NTH.OF I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1962 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 45,046

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: ST 38 SB/MAIN ST

RT 128 AT RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 85,675

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Fair

Over: ST 38 SB/MAIN ST

RT 128 AT RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 89,701

HWY YOKUM PD RD

Fair

Over: WATER YOKUM BROOK

.8 MI. E. OF LEONHARDT RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1960 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 556

ST 8 RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

1.0 MI N OF CLKSBRG TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1970 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 3,018

ST134

Fair

Over: US 6 EB/MID CAPE HWY

.5 M EAST OF YARMOUTH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1969 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 43,320

US 6 WB/EASTRN AV

Fair

Over: I 195

AT I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 8,000

HWY MENAUHANT RD

Fair

Over: WATER BOURNES POND

AT BOURNES POND, Barnstable, MA

Built 1985 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 2,600

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: ST117 N MAIN ST

.5 MI. S. OF NASHUA RIVER, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 25,633

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY DONALD LYNCH BLVD

.1MI. N.W. OF I-290, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 54,415

I 93

Fair

Over: ST213 EB

2 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 120,514

I 495

Fair

Over: COMB ST105 & MBTA/MACRR

.25 MI W OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 46,800

ST 10 BERNARDSTON

Fair

Over: RR NECRR

.1 M W JCT ST 63, Franklin, MA

Built 1969 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 12,802

HWY FIRE STA RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

N OF 116 @ CENTER RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1932 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 129

HWY WOLMLPOAG ST

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

1 MI EA OF S MAIN ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1973 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 5,300

I 291 CONN & RMP D

Fair

Over: HWY DWIGHT ST

.1 M E JCT MAIN ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 19,310

I 84 EB

Fair

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

1MI. STH. OF ST-131, Worcester, MA

Built 1970 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 31,153

ST146 NB

Fair

Over: HWY ELMWOOD AVE

.5 MI N OF RTE 146-A, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 14,833

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY WELLESLEY ST

2.5 MI W. ST 128&I 95 L39, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 55,702

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY WELLESLEY ST

SOUTH OF BROWN ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 68,163

ST116

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.9 M S SUND-AMHERST T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 13,876

HWY WELLS RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH BROOK

AT JCT OF MAIN ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1931 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 1,500

Showing 1,001-1,050 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.