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 FRNCIS MGRTH

Fair

Over: ST122 A/MADISON ST

500 FT S OF SOUTHBRDGE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 21,187

HWY TEAWADDLE HL

Fair

Over: WATER DOOLITTLE BROOK

0.2 MI W OF CSHMN RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 129

US 1 NB/ LO DECK

Fair

Over: HWY CHRLTWN LOCAL STS

BOS APPR LOWER, Suffolk, MA

Built 1950 Load: 19.2 t ADT: 42,492

ST 9 BERKSHIRE TR

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD BROOK

.8 M E WINDSOR T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 19.2 t ADT: 2,820

HWY MINER ST

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

GREEN LINE/FENWAY STA POR, Suffolk, MA

Built 1906 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 1,500

ST110 HIGH ST

Fair

Over: WATER S BR NASHUA RIVER

.4 MI.STH.OF LANCASTER TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1942 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 4,128

HWY COX ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.5 MI NW OF RTE 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1928 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 8,300

HWY OLD TNPKE RD

Fair

Over: WATER SCOTT BROOK

0.2M S OF NH BDR NR WNCDN, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 51

HWY MECHANIC ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

.1 MI N OF RTE 16, Worcester, MA

Built 1873 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 4,586

HWY LAWRENCE ST

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.8 KM WEST ST 110, Essex, MA

Built 1939 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 25,474

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

0.25 MI W FALLS & RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 19,564

HWY FRENCH ST

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK CANAL

AT HIGH SCHOOL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 99,300

HWY WILLIAMSBURG

Fair

Over: WATER CREAMERY BROOK

500 SOUTH OF 116, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 1,034

HWY STAGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MEADOW BROOK

0.3MI W OF INT W/ NASH RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 120

ST 2 MOHAWK TRAIL

Fair

Over: COMB RIVER RD&CONN RIV

MM 56.2 ON ST 2, Franklin, MA

Built 1931 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 10,560

ST117 SEVEN BRG RD

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

.7 MI. W. OF ST-110, Worcester, MA

Built 1927 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 16,182

HWY CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER CANAL

N OF HIGH ST BY PLMR CNTR, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 4,780

ST 24 SB

Fair

Over: HWY CANTON ST

2.1 KM S OF I 93, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 65,548

HWY ESSEX ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.5 MI SOUTH DANVERS RD, Essex, MA

Built 1943 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 21,900

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: HWY PEARSON BLVD SB

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

Built 1961 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 18,730

ST 2 EB

Fair

Over: HWY PEARSON BLVD SB

.7 MILES EAST OF ST. 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 18,730

HWY WINTER ST

Fair

Over: I 90

0.8 MI E OF NATICK TWN LN, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 1,700

ST 71 GRN RIV VAL

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

.75 MI N OF EGREMONT, Berkshire, MA

Built 1932 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 1,380

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: HWY RIVER ST

MM 49.7 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1960 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 9,515

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: ST 32 THORNDIKE ST

MM 63.3 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 23,842

HWY BELMONT AVE

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

.1 MI SOUTH OF RTE 27, Plymouth, MA

Built 1850 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 2,357

ST140 SB

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

CSX MP QN=26.89, Bristol, MA

Built 1969 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 26,508

ST 9 BSTN-WRCSTR

Fair

Over: US 20 SOUTHWEST CUTOFF

1000 FT E OF SHREWSBRY TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1930 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 46,980

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

800 E OF DWIGHT ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1937 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 905

HWY LINCOLN ST

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

0.25 MI N CONNCTR & PLAIN, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 7,900

ST 31 N SPENCER RD

Fair

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

1MI. N. OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1952 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 7,863

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: I 95 NB

AT FOXBORO T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 29,741

ST 8 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER YOKUM POND BROOK

100 S. OF MCNERNEY ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1915 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 2,027

MA ROUTE 3

Fair

Over: CAPE COD CANAL

JUNCTION MA RTES 3 & 6, Barnstable, MA

Built 1935 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 61,701

HWY MAIN ST LEED

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.1 MI N OF ARCH ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1925 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 2,008

ST111 HOLLIS ST

Fair

Over: WATER NISSITISSIT RIVER

200 FT S OF NASHUA RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 9,300

HWY GUNN RD

Fair

Over: WATER MANHAN RIVER

0.5M S OF RT10 NR EHPTN, Hampshire, MA

Built 1952 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 388

HWY DORCHSTR AVE

Fair

Over: TR RED LINE (TUNNEL)

0.3 MI S OF EXIT 16 I-93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1925 Load: 20.2 t

ST 2 ELM ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.64 KM E RT 2 ROTARY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1904 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 47,800

HWY BASCOM RD

Fair

Over: WATER FALL RIVER

AT GREENFIELD TOWN LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 1955 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 129

I 495 RAMP E

Fair

Over: I 495 RAMPS A & B

.3 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 19,300

ST113 PLSNT VAL ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.2 MI ST213, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 12,341

ST 8 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER YOKUM BROOK

.2 MI SOUTH OF HIGH ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1922 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 1,552

HWY MAPLE ST

Fair

Over: WATER YOKUM BROOK

@ INTER. WITH MAIN ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1928 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 129

HWY MIDDLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER HUDSON BROOK

850 N OF INT W/ CROSS RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1950 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 2,198

US 6 WB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: WATER BASS RIVER

AT DENNIS YARMOUTH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1954 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 27,714

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: I 95 SB

AT FOXBORO T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1962 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 29,741

US 7 SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

0.3MI S OF RTE102/DWNTWN, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 12,299

HWY BRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.1 MI. S. OF RIVER RD. W., Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 1,802

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: OTHER PEAT BOG

27 M. E OF BELLINGHAM RD, Norfolk, MA

Built 1941 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 18,900

Showing 151-200 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.