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: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.32 KM SW OF DEDHAM ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 98,275

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.32 KM SW OF DEDHAM ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 98,200

I 90

Fair

Over: I 391

MM 47.3 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1978 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 48,130

ST138 SOMERSET AV

Fair

Over: WATER THREE MILE RIVER

1.5 MI. N OF CENTER ST., Bristol, MA

Built 1932 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 15,905

ST 2 A/W BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER BENT TRAVERS POND

.5 MI E OF ST-68, Worcester, MA

Built 1924 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 5,500

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: HWY NASHUA ST

.5 MILES S.E. OF ST 13, Worcester, MA

Built 1975 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 32,888

ST109 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT MILLIS T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1900 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 16,168

ST140

Fair

Over: RR BCRR

.9 MI NE OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1970 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 51,136

US 1 NE XWAY

Fair

Over: ST 60 EB/SQUIRE RD

1.6 KM W OF SR 107, Suffolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 83,500

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST 38 MAIN ST

RT 495 AT RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 64,701

ST 41 ALBANY RD

Fair

Over: WATER FLAT BROOK

200 NORTH OF GWENN LN, Berkshire, MA

Built 1900 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 2,845

US 20 E MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

.2 M E JCT NOBLE ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1951 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 31,293

HWY RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

@ WINDIGO RD INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 380

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: HWY AUBURN ST

.3 MI W OF INT RTE 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 34,930

HWY BENNINGTN ST

Fair

Over: HWY MARTIN COUGHLIN BY

305 M S OF SUFFOLK DOWNS, Suffolk, MA

Built 1906 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 42,672

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY FULLER LN

.9 MI N IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 38,821

ST138 WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1

ST 138 AT ST 128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 48,879

HWY NEPONSET ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.16 KM SE OF I 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 32,586

HWY E MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH BROOK

AT FLAHERTY RD&WINDSOR RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 430

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: HWY SCOTT TOWER RD

MM 14.5 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 51,336

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

1 M E OF PLYMPTON TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1992 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 1,600

ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

Fair

Over: HWY LANDING RD

2 M N OF PLYMOUTH TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1955 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 64,000

I 190 SB & ST2 EB

Fair

Over: HWY NASHUA ST

.5 MI N OF MECHANIC ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1975 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 31,735

HWY MURDOCK ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEMASKET RIVER

JUST W OF SUMMER ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1912 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 1,600

HWY ANTWERP ST

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

3.2 KM S JCT I93 & SR3A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 12,700

HWY KINGS HWY

Fair

Over: ST140

4.32 KM. NORTH U.S. 6, Bristol, MA

Built 1969 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 15,000

HWY HUGUENOT RD

Fair

Over: I 395

MM 5.8 .5 MI E OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1973 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 900

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: TR RED LINE SSH

300 FT SW OF FRANKLIN ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1972 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 12,114

ST 28 CRANBRRY HWY

Fair

Over: WATER PARKER MILL POND

1 MI S OF RTE 195, Plymouth, MA

Built 1924 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 8,929

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: COMB CNTRL MLBRY & PWRR

.9 MI E OF I-290, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 11,216

I 93 SB B10-B16RP

Fair

Over: RR MBTA & BMRR

.8 MI N OF JCT US1 & I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 26,000

I 93 NB B10-B16

Fair

Over: I 93 SB B10-B16

1.0 MI N OF JCT I93 & US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 58,882

HWY LWLL CONN NB

Fair

Over: HWY RIVERNECK RD

0.4 KM W RT 495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 15,000

I 391 & RAMPS ABCD

Fair

Over: COMB MAIN ST & PVRR

.1 M N JCT CONN RIVER, Hampden, MA

Built 1980 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 38,678

ST 70 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

.1 MI S OF CENTER BR RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1955 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 6,482

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: I 95

QUARTER MILE N PARKER RIV, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 6,700

HWY HAMMOND ST

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

0.28 MI NOTH OF RTE 9, Middlesex, MA

Built 1893 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 9,681

HWY ORNE ST/LNDY

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

ADJACENT TO ROUTE 1, Bristol, MA

Built 1979 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 7,700

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: ST 9 BRIDGE ST

MM 24.8 ON I-91 SB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 18,273

HWY CANTON ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX SPUR QBL 2.18

R 128 IND PRK LEAD MP QBL, Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 15,517

HWY BLDWNVLLE RD

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB

MM 81.9 ON ST 2 EB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 4,138

HWY BLDWNVLLE RD

Fair

Over: ST 2 WB

MM 81.9 ON ST 2 EB, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 4,138

ST 3 SB

Fair

Over: HWY PLEASANT ST

1.1 KM W OF HINGHAM T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 35.2 t ADT: 78,103

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: US 20 WASHINGTON ST

MM 92.2(I90) OR 111(ST20), Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 61,303

HWY HAVERHILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

0.8 KM EAST ST 110, Essex, MA

Built 1939 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 7,800

HWY HAMILTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

.25 MI NW OF RTE 13, Worcester, MA

Built 1955 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 9,534

ST213 RAMP

Fair

Over: ST213

.6 MI W I495, Essex, MA

Built 1985 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 12,700

ST146 SB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

.2 MI S OF MCCRACKEN RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 5,284

I 295 SB

Fair

Over: HWY OLD POST RD

.3 MI. E. OF US1, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 26,233

HWY ROOD HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER SANDMILL BROOK

.1 MI WEST OF RTE 183, Berkshire, MA

Built 1970 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 120

Showing 1,701-1,750 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.