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 95 NB

Fair

Over: US 1 WASHINGTON ST

.4 MI NO OF R.I. BORDER, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 16,142

I 295 NB

Fair

Over: HWY CLIFTON ST

.3 MI W OF I 95, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 18,898

US 1 RAMP LC

Fair

Over: COMB US1SB/NB&MILLERS R

RAMP FROM RUTHERFORD AVE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1989 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 18,620

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY GOLDEN COVE RD

0.1 MI E RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 88,200

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: I 90 EXIT 51 RAMPS

MM 51.2 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 32,675

HWY HIXVILLE RD

Fair

Over: I 195

.3 MI.W OF FAUNC CORNR RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 4,138

ST 18 BEDFORD ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

CSX MP QNB 19.56, Plymouth, MA

Built 1931 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 16,143

HWY CENTR BRG RD

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

.2 MI NW OF RTE 110, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 4,759

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY FAIRVIEW ST

AT MM 9.4 A12, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 12,308

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY FAIRVIEW ST

AT MM 9.4 A12, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 12,181

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY FULLER ST

MM 54.1 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 54,569

I 195 EB

Fair

Over: WATER SIPPICAN RIVER

0.7 M E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1971 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 16,783

I 195 WB

Fair

Over: WATER SIPPICAN RIVER

0.7 M E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1971 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 17,100

I 295 NB

Fair

Over: US 1 S WASHINGTON ST

2 MILES WEST OF I 95, Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 28,000

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: COMB MDC AQUEDUCT & CSX

MM 17.4, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 42,242

I 95 RAMP D

Fair

Over: I 95 RAMP C

.1 MI E US1, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 25,200

I 84 EB

Fair

Over: ST 15 MASHAPAUG RD

4 MI SOUTH OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1970 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 33,677

HWY GRDN OWEN RW

Fair

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

.1 MI. S. OF RT. 44, Bristol, MA

Built 1975 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 13,642

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: WATER WILLIAMS RIVER

AT MILE MARKER 2.5 A5, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 16,184

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: WATER WILLIAMS RIVER

AT WEST STOCKBRIDGE A5, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 17,712

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY BOWMAN ST

.5 MI N OF UPTON TWN LN, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 40,902

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY BOWMAN ST

.5 MI N OF UPTON TWN LN, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 43,598

HWY MISHAWUM RD

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.6 KM W RT 93 & RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1977 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 35,560

HWY KINNE BRK RD

Fair

Over: WATER WATTS STREAM

.4 MI SOUTH OF ROUTE 112, Hampshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 776

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY WATER ST

500 FT WEST OF ST - 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 63,089

ST122 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: COMB BLCKSTN CNL & PWRR

AT CORNER OF BUTLER ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 3,455

HWY COMM AVE EB

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY RIVER

.3 MI E OF KENMORE SQ., Suffolk, MA

Built 1917 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 22,600

HWY CHSTNT HL AV

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 14,100

ST143 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER BRONSON BRK WEST B

.7 M W JCT IRELAND ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 1928 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 2,069

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY CENTRAL ST

.7 MI NE OF ST 140, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 51,650

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: COMB SNOW RD & GURR

.3MI.E.WORCESTER ST K25, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 43,661

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: COMB SNOW RD & GURR

.5 MI N OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 43,661

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: I 91 RMP A TPK CONN

MM 11.5 ON I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 36,164

HWY HARTWELL AVE

Fair

Over: WATER KILN BROOK

1.1 KM SW OF RTE 225, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 18,000

I 93 RP TO I93 NB

Fair

Over: I 93

1.0 KM NW JCT I93&SR28, Middlesex, MA

Built 1972 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 15,869

HWY EMERY ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,050

HWY NASH RD

Fair

Over: ST140

.3 MI EAST OF SHAWMUT AVE, Bristol, MA

Built 1970 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,729

I 295 NB

Fair

Over: HWY OLD POST RD

.3 MI E OF US1, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 31,810

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: HWY UNION ST

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

Built 1963 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 42,837

HWY MOUNTAIN AVE

Fair

Over: US 1 NE XWAY

1.76 KM N OF JCT SR16, Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 5,300

HWY ED FOSTER RD

Fair

Over: WATER TIDAL INLET

.6 MI E OF SCITUATE CTR, Plymouth, MA

Built 1930 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 4,914

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: HWY N QUINSIGAMOND AVE

1.5 MI.NTH.OF ST.9, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 41,561

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY SHORE DR

.8 KM S OF JCT 193&SR16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1973 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 147,366

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: ST140 REDEMPTION ROCK TR

.3 MI N OF W. BOYLSTON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 9,953

HWY STOW ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

.3MI. W. OF ST-27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1924 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 3,141

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: COMB WEST ST & RELIEF

MM 89 OF I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 52,157

HWY POND ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1 MI NE SALEM & POND, Middlesex, MA

Built 1986 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 5,400

I 195 & RAMP B

Fair

Over: OTHER BIKEWAY(BCRR)

.2 MI W OF ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 114,052

ST 43 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER KINDERHOOK CREEK

300 W OF TAYLOR ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 3,054

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST114 WINTHROP AVE

.7 MI N ST28, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 90,400

Showing 1,551-1,600 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.