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 495 SB

Fair

Over: WATER CANOE RIVER

.42 MI NW OF 123, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 40,098

US 20 PARK AVE

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

NORTH END BRIDGE, Hampden, MA

Built 1924 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 27,500

I 395 SB

Fair

Over: HWY MEMORIAL BEACH RD

300 FT. EAST OF ST-193, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 14,495

ST 9 BERKSHIRE TR

Fair

Over: WATER WINDSOR BROOK

200 E OF NORTH STREET, Berkshire, MA

Built 1951 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 4,874

HWY SOUTHBRDG ST

Fair

Over: WATER MIDDLE RIVER

UNDER I-290 AT HOLY CROSS, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 11,930

HWY PORTER ST

Fair

Over: OTHER PEDESTRIAN WLKWY

15.2 M S OF SR 1A, Suffolk, MA

Built 1907 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 7,500

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: COMB WASH RD&CSX&RIV

MM 66.7 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 24,284

HWY SAND MILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER DRY BROOK

.4 MI S OF ROUTE 116, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 259

ST116 CONWAY RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.05 M S OF CONWAY TL, Franklin, MA

Built 1917 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 4,914

ST 32 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE BROOK

JCT. GREEN STREET, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 9,569

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: US 1 WASHINGTON ST

I 495 AT US 1, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 48,754

HWY WASHNGTN AVE

Fair

Over: WATER PINES RIVER

0.5 KM W. OF JCT. US 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1950 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 17,700

US 20 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR BMRR (ABANDONED)

.16 KM WLY WAVERLY ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1954 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 22,400

ST 24

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

.1 MI N OF BRIDGEWATER TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1952 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 95,798

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

BRIDGE ST AT WESTFIELD RV, Hampden, MA

Built 1970 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 14,800

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA & COLUMBIA RD

2 MI S OF JCT I90, Suffolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 205,100

HWY PLAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

ST 37, Norfolk, MA

Built 1929 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 31,550

HWY NEW HOLLAND

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

JCT OF HAYNES HILL RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1920 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 650

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: OTHER BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL

0.5 MILE N. OF RTE 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 113,100

ST141 GRATTAN ST

Fair

Over: I 391

MM 3.9 ON I-391, Hampden, MA

Built 1979 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10,701

HWY W MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

0.1 MILE EAST OF RIVER RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1922 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 129

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: RR PVRR

.2 M W JCT MAIN ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1961 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 4,100

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY COMMONWEALTH DR

.4 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 60,077

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: ST 21 CENTER ST

MM 54.3 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 59,670

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: I 95 NB

.1 E OF FOXBORO T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,714

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: I 95 SB

.1 M E OF FOXBORO TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,714

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: ST213

1 MI N ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 50,326

HWY WASHNGTON AV

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.4 MI SW OF RT 27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1895 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 4,500

HWY HUNNEWELL ST

Fair

Over: RR BCRR/MBTA

.16 KM SE HILLSIDE AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1978 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 6,200

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: I 95

AT END OF I495, Essex, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 25,862

I 291 /US20

Fair

Over: RR CSX SPUR

0.2 MI E OF ST JAMES AVE, Hampden, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 59,482

I 195 WB

Fair

Over: WATER COHACKET BROOK

1.5 M E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1970 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 22,241

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY E MOUNTAIN RD

MM 42.3 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 24,987

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY E MOUNTAIN RD

MM 42.3 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 26,392

HWY MT VERNON ST

Fair

Over: WATER ABERJONA RIVER

BTW TWN HALL & FIRE STA., Middlesex, MA

Built 1890 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10,600

I 93 NB/US1NB

Fair

Over: ST 37 GRANITE ST

I 93 AT ST 37, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 95,449

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: ST140 COMMERCIAL ST

.25 M SO OF FOXBORO PIT, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 53,642

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: ST140 COMMERCIAL ST

I 95 AT ST 140, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 52,937

ST140 SHREWSBRY ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.8 MI. S. OF RT-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1936 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 9,969

HWY COLRAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER ALLEN BROOK

0.5 MI N OF PLAIN RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1989 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,940

I 91 SB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: ST141 EB

MM 15.2 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 5,379

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY FULLER ST

MM 54.1 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 54,569

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY BERLIN RD

.5 MI. S. OF I-290, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 49,423

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY BERLIN RD

0.5 MI S. I-290, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 47,192

I 295 SB

Fair

Over: US 1 S WASHINGTON ST

2 MI. W. OF I-95, Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 29,000

ST 8 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR FARMINGTON R

AT SOUCIE LN, Berkshire, MA

Built 1927 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 2,927

I 291 LINE L

Fair

Over: HWY MAIN ST

0.1 M W JCT DWIGHT ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 75,000

I 195 WB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: I 495

AT 195 / 495 TO 195 WB, Plymouth, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 17,327

HWY OAK ST

Fair

Over: I 90

I-90 MM 118.9, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 136,914

HWY PARK RD

Fair

Over: I 90 RAMPS J & L

AT INT 14 L44, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 21,724

Showing 1,501-1,550 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.