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 SHERBERT RD

Fair

Over: WATER LOWER NAUKEAG BRK

0.2M S OF SNST LK BY WNCH, Worcester, MA

Built 1936 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 520

HWY TULLY RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR TULLY RIVER

1100 S INT CREAMERY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1954 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,551

HWY ST JAMES AVE

Fair

Over: I 291 /US20

MM 2.6 ON I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 1969 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 46,300

HWY COUNTY RD

Fair

Over: WATER SIPPICAN RIVER

.4 MI N OF I 195, Plymouth, MA

Built 1938 Load: 17.3 t ADT: 2,786

HWY AGASSIZ RD

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY RIVER

2.1 KM S OF RT 9, Suffolk, MA

Built 1889 Load: 17.4 t ADT: 1,000

HWY MILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER SCANTIC RIVER

0.5MI S ELONGMDW RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 17.4 t ADT: 3,750

HWY MN POLAND RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

W OF RT116 BTWN BRKVL&CTR, Franklin, MA

Built 1869 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 100

HWY E RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER TUTTLE BROOK

800 NORTH OF CONE ROAD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1951 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 259

HWY BEARTOWN MTN

Fair

Over: WATER LOOM BROOK

0.1M NW OF HUPI RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 129

ST140 NB

Fair

Over: HWY BRALEY RD

.9 MI SE OF FREETOWN T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 23,309

HWY ZOAR RD

Fair

Over: WATER SAM RICE BROOK

.9 MI EAST OF COUNTY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 357

ST138 WEIR ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.1 MI S OF US 44, Bristol, MA

Built 1947 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 16,422

HWY S SHIRKSH RD

Fair

Over: WATER BEAR RIVER

.1 MI N. OF PINE HILL RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 17.6 t ADT: 129

ST 2

Fair

Over: COMB ST112 & DEERFLD R

.1M W JCT ST 112 NO., Franklin, MA

Built 1954 Load: 17.7 t ADT: 10,562

HWY MORD LINC RD

Fair

Over: WATER BOUND BROOK

SCITUATE/COHASSET LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 17.7 t ADT: 388

HWY TOWN HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER FACTORY BROOK

3.2MI S OF SKYLINE TRAIL, Hampshire, MA

Built 1920 Load: 17.7 t ADT: 129

HWY MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER ROARING BROOK

.25 MI S CARRINGTON RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1952 Load: 17.7 t ADT: 3,400

ST 57 WB

Fair

Over: ST 75 SUFFIELD ST

MM 43.0 ON ST 57 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1961 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 16,422

ST 57 EB

Fair

Over: ST 75 SUFFIELD ST

MM 43.0 ON ST 57 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1961 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 13,707

HWY MARKET ST

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK CANAL

AT INTER WITH DUTTON ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1912 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 6,500

ST140 TREMONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER THREE MILE RIVER

.2 MI E OF DUNBAR ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1936 Load: 17.9 t ADT: 18,300

HWY DANIEL SHAYS

Fair

Over: WATER LAKE ROHNTA OUTLET

.3 M N JCT ORANGE T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1955 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 4,075

I 93 SB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: OTHER TRI COMMUNITY GREE

0.1 MI S MONTVALE AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 6,100

HWY BELDNGVIL RD

Fair

Over: WATER BEAR RIVER

BTW BLDNGVL RD&BPTST CORN, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 120

ST128

Fair

Over: ST 35 HIGH ST

1.3 MI N OF ST-114, Essex, MA

Built 1940 Load: 18.3 t ADT: 72,449

ST169 MECHANIC ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

O.2 MI. NTH. OF ST-131, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 18.3 t ADT: 7,136

HWY EAST RD

Fair

Over: WATER TOPHET BROOK

.5 MI S OF INT W/ EAST ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1936 Load: 18.4 t ADT: 2,457

HWY ADAMS ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

.1 MI. W. OF RT. 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1904 Load: 18.4 t ADT: 4,500

HWY HARBOR ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.25 MILES E ST 127, Essex, MA

Built 1936 Load: 18.4 t ADT: 900

HWY PRESIDENT AV

Fair

Over: ST 24

2.4 M NO. OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 8,635

ST 18 BEDFORD ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORGE POND

.25 MI N OF CENTRAL ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1893 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 17,237

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

.3 MI. E. OF ST 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 11,015

ST 2 EB

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

.3 MILES E OF ST-68, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 11,662

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER CANAL

100 E. CHRCH ST IN THRDK, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 3,362

ST112 HUNTNGTON RD

Fair

Over: WATER WARDS STREAM

@ WITT HILL RD INT, Hampshire, MA

Built 1917 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 1,500

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 28.7 ON I-91, Hampshire, MA

Built 1963 Load: 18.7 t ADT: 1,940

HWY PAINE ST

Fair

Over: WATER PETERS RIVER

0.2MI SOUTH OF ST-126, Norfolk, MA

Built 1967 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 3,400

HWY MN POLAND RD

Fair

Over: WATER CHAPEL BROOK

0.1 MI EAST OF HARRISON R, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 214

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

MM 46.3 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 49,500

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY COVE BROOK

AT INT OF MUDDY COVE LN, Bristol, MA

Built 1914 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 1,400

US 7 WILLMSTWN RD

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

0.2 MI SOUTH OF SCOTT RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1961 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 5,512

HWY FOX RD

Fair

Over: WATER S BR SILVER BROOK

S OF VEITS RD S OF RT57, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 129

HWY ELK RD

Fair

Over: WATER S BR SILVER BROOK

.1 MI E OF FOX RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 129

ST 1 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

CSX QBF MP QBF 7.94, Norfolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 24,800

ST 28 S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

0.2 M S OF RTE 106, Plymouth, MA

Built 1897 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 29,100

HWY FRUIT ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.2 MI. S.OF I-90, Middlesex, MA

Built 1966 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 3,916

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEWTON-WELLESLEY TWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 142,579

HWY BROOKSIDE RD

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

AT JCT OF ROGER AVE, Franklin, MA

Built 1923 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 2,400

HWY GRANVILLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MUNN BROOK

0.1 M W JCT OF LOOMIS ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,552

ST 88

Fair

Over: WATER WESTPORT RIVER

.8 MI S OF DRIFT RD., Bristol, MA

Built 1958 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 6,500

Showing 101-150 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.