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: HWY OAK ST

.6 MI SE SHARON T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1962 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 52,000

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY OAK ST

.6 MI SE SHARON T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 51,622

I 90

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.3 MI. W. OF MDC RES, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 114,872

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: HWY AIRPORT RD

.25 MI E OF TEMPLETON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 11,015

ST 32 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

1.2 M N NEW BRAINTREE T/L, Worcester, MA

Built 1940 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 7,500

HWY AZALEA DR

Fair

Over: WATER HERRING RIVER

1 MI W OF ST124, Barnstable, MA

Built 1974 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 1,034

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY LEOMINSTER CONN

.1 MI N OF MECHANIC ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 15,392

ST119 GREAT RD

Fair

Over: I 495

1 MI N OF ST-2A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 18,935

ST 27 N MEADOWS RD

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT SHERBORN T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 8,547

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER SAWMILL RIVER

AT JCT OF GFLD RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1990 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 5,043

HWY CARRINGTN RD

Fair

Over: WATER ROARING BROOK

1 MI SOUTH OF MAIN RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1939 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 776

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY OLD POST RD

.1 M EAST OF RTE 1, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 51,399

HWY BRKSHRE AVE

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.1 M S JCT COTTAGE ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1920 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 21,300

ST140 COUNTY ST

Fair

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

.6 MI SE OF DEAN ST US 44, Bristol, MA

Built 1972 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 21,078

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 45.2 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 36,681

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 45.2 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 36,989

HWY BAKER ST

Fair

Over: I 90 WB

.2 MI N. ST 102 A2, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 517

I 195 EB

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

.7 MI W OF DARTMOUTH T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 37,666

ST 9 GOSHEN RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

JCT NICHOLS RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1926 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 9,569

HWY BULKLEY ST

Fair

Over: WATER HEMLOCK BROOK

450 WEST OF RT 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1985 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 647

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: ST 70 LNCLN ST & ON RAMP

.25 MILES N. OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 71,116

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: HWY RESERVOIR ST

@MM 26.5/W OF CHURCH ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 38,408

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: I 291

MM 50.9 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 34,252

HWY NEW LOMBARD

Fair

Over: WATER FULLER BROOK

.5 MI E OF BURNETT RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 2,328

ST 35 WATER ST

Fair

Over: WATER WATERS RIVER

.25 MI NW OF PEABODY, Essex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 27,500

HWY HIGHLAND AVE

Fair

Over: I 195

AT WESTPORT TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 2,069

HWY ELM BANK RD

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER INLT

IN DOVER, Norfolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 646

HWY MIDDLEFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER BENNETT BROOK

530 S OF CREAMERY RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1933 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 950

HWY STAFFORD ST

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.5 M EAST OF OXFORD LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 4,604

HWY ST JAMES ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

AT INT 17 S33, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 12,413

ST 2 W MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR PARR

.25MI W OF ROUTE 8 422.77, Berkshire, MA

Built 1882 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 13,810

US 6 MID CAPE HWY

Fair

Over: ST 6 A/CRANBERRY HWY

1.5 M E OF BREWSTER TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 21,330

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: HWY OLD POST RD

.1 MI EAST OF RT 1, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 52,289

ST 2 EB

Fair

Over: ST 2 A/PATRIOTS RD

MM 80.5 ON ST 2 EB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 9,381

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: ST 2 A/PATRIOTS RD

MM 80.5 ON ST 2 WB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 11,196

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY COLBY AV

0.3 MI S OF LINCOLN ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 47,092

HWY FRNT RD NB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

JUST NORTH SO BY PASS RD, Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 42,155

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: I 291

MM 50.8 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 34,252

I 195 RAMP A

Fair

Over: RR SPURR (ABANDONED)

2 MI. E OF BRAGA BRIDGE, Bristol, MA

Built 1963 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 16,074

I 90 EX 117 IN 13

Fair

Over: I 90

AT INTERCHANGE 13, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 45,000

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: ST 2 A/W BROADWAY

.3 MILES NORTH OF ST 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 11,427

HWY TENNEY ST

Fair

Over: I 95

1.1 KM N OF ST-133, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 2,300

HWY MIDDLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

E OF RT8A 1.3M S OF CHMNT, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 240

HWY PARK HLL AVE

Fair

Over: I 90

.4 MI E OF 146, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 1,000

HWY HAMPDEN AVE

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE BROOK

E OF RT32 S OF MONSON CTR, Hampden, MA

Built 1936 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 129

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY CONCORD ST

2.4 KM NLY RT 129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 155,000

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: HWY COLBY AV

.3 MI.STH.OF LINCOLN ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 44,117

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: US 20 JACOBS LADDER RD

.2MI.E.GREENWATER POND B1, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 14,011

HWY CAMBRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: COMB ORANGE & MBTA/BMRR

0.33 KM W SULLIVAN SQ., Suffolk, MA

Built 1880 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 23,000

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA & RED LN SSH

6.8 KM S OF JCT I90&I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 211,123

Showing 1,651-1,700 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.