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 N CATAMNT HI

Fair

Over: WATER TAYLOR BROOK

AT HEATH ROAD INT., Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 129

ST116 S DEERFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

.1 MI WEST OF ELM STREET, Franklin, MA

Built 1925 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 3,362

HWY REED RD

Fair

Over: I 195

1.3 MI N OF US 6, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 8,143

HWY N BROADWAY

Fair

Over: I 495 NB

1.3 MILES N MERRIMAC RIVR, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,400

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: I 195

0.9 M N OF RTE 6, Plymouth, MA

Built 1972 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 7,714

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY HAMPSHIRE RD

.1 MI S NEW HAMPSHIRE STA, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 145,312

HWY DAVIS ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.1M W OF RT135, Worcester, MA

Built 1850 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,600

HWY DEARBON RD

Fair

Over: HWY US 1 N RAMP C

0.16 KM EAST US 1, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,600

I 291 RAMP B

Fair

Over: HWY DWIGHT ST

.1 M E JCT MAIN ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 5,100

HWY OTTR RIV RD

Fair

Over: ST 2 WB

MM 83.9 ON ST 2 WB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 905

HWY WOBURN ST

Fair

Over: I 93

0.6 MI SLY RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 5,600

HWY TAUNTON ST

Fair

Over: I 495 NB

.8 MI W OF US 1, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,000

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: HWY READ ST

.6 MI NE OF US 1A, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 62,586

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY READ ST

.6 MI NE OF ST 1A, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 38,000

HWY N CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER MATFIELD RIVER

.7 MI W RTE 18, Plymouth, MA

Built 1921 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 5,431

HWY EUNICE WLLMS

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

E OF RVR RD @ LEYDEN BRDR, Franklin, MA

Built 1972 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 1,552

HWY WEST ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC RIVER

@ INTERS. OF FAIRFIELD RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1936 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 11,280

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: I 495 SB

0.5 MI N RT 20, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 5,316

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: OTHER BIKE TRAIL

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

Built 1968 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 44,595

ST 2 A/ST101

Fair

Over: ST 2 WB

AT EXIT 83, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 13,000

ST 9 W MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER WICKABOAG LK OTLT

AT WICKABOAG POND, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 11,250

I 195 EB

Fair

Over: HWY SANFORD RD

.6 MI E OF FALL RIVER C.L, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 31.9 t ADT: 32,499

ST 2 A/MASS AVE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.8 KM SE OF JCT SR2A&16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1899 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 14,094

ST 35 WATER ST

Fair

Over: WATER CRANE RIVER

.75 MI NW OF PEABODY, Essex, MA

Built 1980 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 32,000

HWY LEE RD

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 37.7 ON I-91, Franklin, MA

Built 1963 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 1,164

HWY SPRUCE ST

Fair

Over: I 495 SB

1.4MI NW OF I 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 1,552

HWY SPRUCE ST

Fair

Over: I 495 NB

1.4MI NW OF I 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 1,552

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: I 495 SB

.8 MI NW OF I 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 2,700

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.8 MI NW OF KING ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 67,829

HWY MTN PARK ACC

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 17.2 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1964 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 100

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: HWY WESTFIELD RD

MM 13.6 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 50,043

ST105 E MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEMASKET RIVER

1.3 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1926 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 10,500

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: HWY OLD FERRY RD

MM 24.3 ON I-91 NB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 36,140

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY UNION ST

.3 MI N OF WALPOLE T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 48,200

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

.3MI. N. OF MAIN ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1904 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 4,938

I 91

Fair

Over: HWY UNION ST

JCT UNION ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 114,200

HWY BRUSH HIL AV

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 10.1 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 4,397

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST102 STATE LINE RD

0.6 MI E. NY BORDER A1, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 16,184

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: ST102 STATE LINE RD

0.6 MI E. NY BORDER A1, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 18,683

ST152 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

1.5 MI NE OF SEEKONK TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1949 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 6,879

ST 28 SB/CLARENDON

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 &CSX &ORNG LN

.8 KM S. STORROW DR S64, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 16,300

HWY SHAW ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

.40 KM W OF RTE. 53, Norfolk, MA

Built 1969 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 11,896

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.8 MI N OF KING ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 67,829

HWY LOCUST ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 1,516

ST110 MERRIMACK ST

Fair

Over: I 495

1 MI S OF ST-213, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 17,608

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.1 MI N OF RT 135, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 7,800

US 7 NEW ASHFORD

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

2.4 MI N OF LANESBORO TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1954 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 4,849

I 195

Fair

Over: HWY N FRONT ST

.4 MI W OF FAIRHVN T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 62,062

ST 10 SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: OTHER MANHAN RAIL TRAIL

.1 M S JCT ST 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1948 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 26,250

I 91

Fair

Over: HWY BROAD ST

MM 4.9 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 89,309

Showing 1,101-1,150 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.