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 290 & RAMPS

Fair

Over: HWY PROSPECT ST

.1 MI E OF SUMMER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 114,878

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

ADJACENT TO EXIT # 1, Worcester, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,907

HWY GREENWOOD RD

Fair

Over: I 495 SB

GREENWOOD AT I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 1,700

I 93 NB ON RMP

Fair

Over: I 93 SB/MBTA ORANGE LN

.8 MI N OF JCT I93&US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 10,866

HWY LOCKWOOD LN

Fair

Over: I 95

1.4 MI N IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 79,154

HWY LWLL CONN SB

Fair

Over: HWY RIVERNECK RD

0.4 KM S RT 495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 16,500

US 1 SB BTS 36/PR

Fair

Over: HWY ARLINGTON & 5TH ST

.2 MI NE OF TOBIN BR., Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 48,700

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: I 90 EXIT 49 RAMPS

MM 49.0 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 34,525

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: I 90 EXIT 51 RAMPS

MM 51.2 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 25,031

US 6 (MIDDLE BRG)

Fair

Over: WATER ACUSHNET RIVER

.4 MI W OF NBED C.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1901 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 32,200

I 195 & COLLECTOR

Fair

Over: OTHER BIKEWAY

RODMAN/LOWELL ST PROPERTY, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 86,575

I 90

Fair

Over: COMB CHICOPEE RIVER/MAY

MM 58.2 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 63,031

US 20 EB/BSTN PST

Fair

Over: I 495

1.8 MI. E. OF NTHBORO TL., Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 15,800

ST140 NB

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

MP QN=26.84, Bristol, MA

Built 1969 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 35,560

I 295 NB

Fair

Over: HWY PAINE RD

.7 MI SE OF R.I.S.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 19,357

ST 8 S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR FARMINGTON R

1.7 MI SOUTH OF RTE 57, Berkshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 2,747

US 20 PLAINFLD ST

Fair

Over: I 91

JCT OF I-91 & US 20A, Hampden, MA

Built 1968 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 31,251

I 395 NB

Fair

Over: ST193 THOMPSON RD

1 MI N OF CONN. ST. LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 13,747

I 395 SB

Fair

Over: ST193 THOMPSON RD

1MI N. OF CONN. ST. LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 11,204

ST140 BEAMAN ST

Fair

Over: WATER STILLWATER RIVER

.2 MI E OF THOMAS ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1904 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 7,334

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: OTHER 146 RAMP & PWRR

.1 MI. W. OF CAMBRIDGE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1966 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 42,189

US 5 (S END BR)

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK & CONN RIV

SOUTH END BRIDGE, Hampden, MA

Built 1954 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 54,220

HWY MAPLE ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR WESTFIELD RIV

JUST NORTH OF ROUTE 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1900 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 90

HWY PROSPECT ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.3 MI N OF ELM ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 1977 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 2,175

HWY CAVE HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER SAWMILL RIVER

JUST S OF N LEVERETT RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1900 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,551

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY BIGELOW ST

.1 MI W. OF I-495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1968 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 37,003

HWY COLLEGE AVE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.6 KM W JCT I93&SR16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1997 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 14,100

HWY WALKER ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

0.2 MI N OF FRANKLIN T/L, Norfolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,154

HWY CENTRE ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

AT INT 17 S28, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 25,086

HWY MARSHALL ST

Fair

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

BETWEEN RTE2 & RIVER ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 6,904

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: HWY DAMON RD

MM 25.5 ON I-91 SB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 15,036

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST110

AT EXIT 55, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 49,402

HWY DARTMOUTH ST

Fair

Over: TR COMM RAIL & OL

SPAN 3-5 BACK BAY STA, Suffolk, MA

Built 1961 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,900

HWY WILLIAMS ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

BTWN ARMORY & EVERETT ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 700

HWY MCBRIDE ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

BTWN WASHINGTON & EVERETT, Suffolk, MA

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,300

I 93 NB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: COMB RED LINE & RELIEF

2 MI S OF JCT I90&I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,400

I 93 SB BT 46-57

Fair

Over: TR ORANGE LINE

.5 MI N OF JCT I93&US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 87,100

HWY MILL RD

Fair

Over: I 195

.4 MI E OF ST 240, Bristol, MA

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 429

HWY NEW BOSTN RD

Fair

Over: I 195

1.3 MI E OF ST 240, Bristol, MA

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,286

HWY PINE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1MI NTH OF ST 30, Worcester, MA

Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,900

HWY WISDOM WAY

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 42.1 ON I-91, Franklin, MA

Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,681

US202

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

JCT US 202 & CONN RIVER, Hampden, MA

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19,716

HWY AMESBURY ST

Fair

Over: COMB MERIMAC RIV/ACCESS

AT MERRIMACK RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1918 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25,000

ST140

Fair

Over: I 495

2.2 MI. S.E. OF I-95, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,100

HWY MOULTON HILL

Fair

Over: WATER VINICA BROOK

50 FT SO OF BLANCHARD RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 259

HWY FOREST ST

Fair

Over: I 95

AT MM 65.3, Essex, MA

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

US 6 WB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: ST130 SANDWICH RD

2.2 M E OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 23,590

HWY FENN RD

Fair

Over: WATER CAMP BROOK

250 E OF MAIN RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 129

HWY HENRY ST

Fair

Over: WATER WEST RIVER

@ COR. OF PATRICK HENRY R, Worcester, MA

Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,500

I 195 EB

Fair

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

3.3 M E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 17,349

Showing 1,251-1,300 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.