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 MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

AT INT. W/ CRYSTAL STREET, Berkshire, MA

Built 1973 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 2,872

ST 23 BLANDFORD RD

Fair

Over: I 90

1.1MI W OF RT20/23 JCT C5, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 2,720

I 291 /US20

Fair

Over: ST 20 A/PAGE BLVD

MM 4.2 ON I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 61,762

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB

MM 84.0 ON ST 2 EB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 2,716

HWY CHRGE PND RD

Fair

Over: ST 25

0.7 M E OF ELM ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 1,642

HWY MILLBROOK ST

Fair

Over: RR PWRR/BMRR

.1MI WEST OF I-190, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 7,280

I 295 NB

Fair

Over: I 95

I-295 AT I-95, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 14,695

I 295 SB

Fair

Over: I 95

4.5 MI EAST OF RI LINE, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 6,816

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: COMB WEST ST & RELIEF

.5 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 50,958

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY GOLDEN COVE RD

0.1 MI E RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 66,190

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: ST114 ANDOVER ST

1.5 MI N ST62, Essex, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 40,100

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: ST114 ANDOVER ST

1.5 MI N ST62, Essex, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 39,400

HWY JEWETT ST

Fair

Over: I 95

3.2 KM N ST133, Essex, MA

Built 1975 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 1,401

HWY FOREST AVE

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.2 M SE OF RTE 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1910 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 3,900

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

0.3 MI N OF ST117/EXIT 17, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 25,203

HWY NEW LENOX RD

Fair

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

.3M W. OF E. NEW LENOX RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1966 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 1,429

ST 16 MYST VAL PKY

Fair

Over: I 93

1.6 KM S OF JCT SR 60, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 40,000

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY HAVEN ST

.9 MI. S. HOPKINTON T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 68,195

I 90 RAMPS

Fair

Over: COMB I 95 & CHARLES RIV

AT INT 14 L49, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 56,670

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY CHURCH ST

I-290 EB/ CHURCH ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 40,706

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: COMB MDC AQUEDUCT & CSX

MM 17.3, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 37,304

ST 10 BERNARDSTON

Fair

Over: WATER CONNECTICUT RIVER

200 E JCT BENNET MDW RD., Franklin, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 9,569

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY W MAIN ST

0.4 MI E OF WORC TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 30,050

ST 28 CRANBRRY HWY

Fair

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

0.5 M E OF ROCHESTER TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1923 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 19,396

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: I 190 RAMP L (SB ON)

@MM 4 / EXIT 4, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 16,915

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: I 190 RAMP L (SB ON)

@MM 4 / EXIT 4, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 17,827

HWY SHEA RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

100 E WCKBG VLLY RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 129

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER ACUSHNET RIVER

ON MAIN ST AT NEW BEDFORD, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 16,100

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: ST 1 A/NEWPORT AVE

JCT ST 1 A & I-95, Bristol, MA

Built 1961 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 41,362

ST126 N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.2 MI.N OF ST 140, Norfolk, MA

Built 1972 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 15,267

HWY ALLEN ST

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

OVER RR, Franklin, MA

Built 1850 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 7,900

HWY DUTTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER WESTERN CANAL

AT INT. PAWTUCKET CANAL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1986 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 33,940

ST110 /ST38

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT SAINTS MEMOIAL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1954 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 38,534

HWY FLORENCE ST

Fair

Over: HWY DARTMOUTH ST

1.3 KM S. MELROSE LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1975 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 10,700

HWY PEABODY ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

.96 KM. SW. OF BOXFORD, Essex, MA

Built 1985 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 3,200

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: ST 9 BRIDGE ST

MM 24.8 ON I-91 NB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 23,875

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

MM 61.8 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 31,587

HWY BARDWLL FRRY

Fair

Over: WATER DRAGON BROOK

@ INT SOUTH ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 1981 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 120

HWY COONEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

0.1 M E OF ST-31, Worcester, MA

Built 1983 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 260

HWY GOLDSBRY ST

Fair

Over: RR P&W/B&M/TNL

FROM SCHOOL STREET NORTH, Worcester, MA

Built 1953 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 9,619

HWY MILL TERRACE

Fair

Over: WATER PONDVILLE STREAM

OFF MILL ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 100

ST 24

Fair

Over: HWY SOUTH ST

.6 MI SOUTH OF POND ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 117,909

US 6 EB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: ST132 IYANNOUGH RD

1 M E OF OAK ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1966 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 27,271

HWY MILL LANE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL POND OUTLET

0.5 MI S OF US20, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 388

HWY E NILSSON ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1 MI E OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1995 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 2,586

HWY NOTCH RD

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH BROOK

0.4 MI EAST OF WINDSOR RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1982 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 111

HWY EAST ST

Fair

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

.7 MI JCT SUMMER STREET, Plymouth, MA

Built 1962 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 2,200

ST 79 SW RAMP

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

MP QNF 9.42, Bristol, MA

Built 1974 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 7,286

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: HWY COCASSET ST

1.7 MI NE OF ST 140, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 56,285

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY COCASSET ST

1.7 MI NE OF ST 140, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 45,142

Showing 1,601-1,650 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.