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 HRTG PRK DR

Fair

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

NORTH OF SONS OF ITALY, Berkshire, MA

Built 1987 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 129

HWY PRSPCT HL RD

Fair

Over: I 90

1 MI NORTH OF VINE ST A8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 3,362

ST187 LITLE RIV RD

Fair

Over: WATER GREAT BROOK

JCT PONTOOSIC RD., Hampden, MA

Built 1850 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 15,387

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY RIDGEWAY RD

AT MM 122.6, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 66,710

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER TATNUCK BROOK

500 FT S OF CHANDLER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 9,728

HWY PIKE AVE

Fair

Over: RR CSX/MACRR

MP QN 2.03, Bristol, MA

Built 1906 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 3,214

ST140 SB RMP ST18

Fair

Over: ST140 NB

.9 MI N OF PHILLIPS RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 4,785

US 6 WB

Fair

Over: COMB ST18 & RELIEF

.75 M W OF FAIRHAVEN TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1973 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 21,952

ST 9 BOYLSTON ST

Fair

Over: HWY CHESTNUT ST

0.64 KM ELY RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1932 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 79,400

HWY GROTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

.2 MI. N. OF RT. 113, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,581

US 20 W HOUSATONIC

Fair

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

AT MILL ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1947 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 25,200

HWY COLUMBUS AVE

Fair

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

AT DEWEY AVE., Berkshire, MA

Built 1996 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,400

US 1 NE XWAY

Fair

Over: HWY SARGENT ST

1 MI S OF ST-60, Suffolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 83,793

HWY NEW STATE RD

Fair

Over: WATER GULF BROOK

300 S OF INT W/ BURNETT, Berkshire, MA

Built 1937 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 129

HWY FRONT ST

Fair

Over: ST 3

1.3 KM E BRAINTREE T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 6,465

HWY NORFOLK ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.53 KM W OF JCTSR28&SR203, Suffolk, MA

Built 1901 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 13,400

ST 1 A

Fair

Over: HWY BNINGTN & NEPTUNE

1 MI N OF CALLAHAN TUN., Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 33,770

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

ALBANY ST / FRONTAGE RD, Suffolk, MA

Built 1997 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 45,270

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

MM 42.6 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1964 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 14,700

HWY OLD WINDSOR

Fair

Over: WATER WINDSOR BROOK

@WINDSOR BORDER, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 129

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST135 WOOD ST

I-90 MILE MARKER 104.9, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 35,483

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY WEST RD

.2 MI S. DEVON RD A10, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 29,932

HWY PINE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

300 E INT FLORENCE RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1850 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 14,741

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: RR NECRR & MCRR

MM 62.2 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 28,500

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: RR NECRR & MCRR

MM 62.2 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 28,890

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY RIDGEWAY RD

AT ST 30 L42, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 66,710

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

JUST N OF NORTHAMPTON, Hampshire, MA

Built 1922 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 1,200

I 290 RAMP DX

Fair

Over: I 290 RP DH & MILLBRK ST

.3 MI.WST OF BURNCOAT ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1982 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 8,030

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: OTHER ASHUWILLTICOOK RT

800FT W OF RTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1921 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 1,293

HWY GARDEN ST

Fair

Over: ST 57

MM 41.4 ON ST 57, Hampden, MA

Built 1991 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 6,078

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY OXFORD ST

I-90 MM 90.4, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 49,080

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

AT IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 43,600

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY BROOKFIELD RD

MM 72.6 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 46,152

ST141 COTTAGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER NASHAWANNUCK POND

500 FT W OF ADAMS ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 21,466

HWY SCOTT RD

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

E OF RTE 7 NORTH OF TOWN, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 129

HWY RAMP B

Fair

Over: ST 9 & RAMP A

0.9 MI WEST RTS 27 & 9, Middlesex, MA

Built 1977 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 8,200

ST 16 WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEWTON WELLESLEY TWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1929 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 20,800

HWY W SQUA ON RP

Fair

Over: OTHER PARKING

N. QUINCY T STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 1969 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 6,465

HWY LACKEY DAM R

Fair

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

1 MI.EST.OF ST.146, Worcester, MA

Built 1982 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 5,800

ST146 NB & RAMP C

Fair

Over: COMB CHOCLG RD&EMRSN BK

MM 3 2.6 MI S OF ST-16, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 16,744

ST146 SB

Fair

Over: COMB CHOCLG RD&EMRSN BK

MM 3 2.6 MI S OF ST-16, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 16,960

ST 3

Fair

Over: HWY SUMMER ST

.16 KM E BRAINTREE T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 236,250

HWY STOCKBRDG RD

Fair

Over: I 90

0.4M S DEVON RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 2,328

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY WEST RD

.2 MI S. DEVON RD A10, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 29,932

I 495 NB & RAMP E

Fair

Over: WATER RUMFORD RIVER

.1 MI SW OF OLD ST 140, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 50,700

ST 28 FELLSWAY

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

.3 MI S OF ST RTE 16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1935 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 64,248

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.3 KM SW SR 16 & 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1997 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 4,400

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: RR MBTA (ABANDONED)

.4 MI E OF TAUNTON C.L, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 38,231

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: RR MBTA (ABANDONED)

.4 MI E OF TAUNTON TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 38,445

ST107 SALEM TPK

Fair

Over: WATER PINES RIVER

1.4 KM NE OF RTE 60, Suffolk, MA

Built 2011 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 35,302

Showing 1,901-1,950 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.