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

ST122 /ST140/WCSTR

Fair

Over: WATER QUINSIGAMOND RIVER

.4 MI. S.E. OF MASS-PIKE, Worcester, MA

Built 1905 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 15,053

ST 28 BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH CANAL

.16 KM N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1939 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 38,800

I 495

Fair

Over: COMB MERRIMAC ST & MBTA

.32 KM S MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 96,595

HWY MARBLE ST

Fair

Over: I 90

@ CLARK CT INT. A14, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 3,362

HWY ORCHARD ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT MILLIS TOWN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1984 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 1,820

ST 24 NB

Fair

Over: HWY CANTON ST

2.1 KM S. 0F I-93, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 103,966

HWY NARAGNST AVE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.32 KM N COMMERCIAL ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 1966 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 1,200

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: HWY NEP AV/GALV/MRSY

4.4 MI S OF JCT I90&I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 158,879

HWY QUABOAG ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

220 FT SOUTH OF RT 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 2,200

ST 16 REV BCH PKWY

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.2 MI E OF SANTILLI CIR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 52,800

HWY POTTER RD

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.35 MI E OF ELM ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 5,000

ST 47 RIVER DRIVE

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

3.2 M S SUNDERLAND T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1937 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 4,700

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY EAST ST

MM 56.1 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 27,180

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY EAST ST

MM 56.1 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 27,552

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY RIVERSIDE DR

AT MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 133,000

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST213

1 MI N ST110, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 61,657

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY DICKINSON HILL RD

0.1 MI. N. OF RTE 23 C4, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 30,141

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: I 90 RMPS EX 78 INT 9

END OF I 84 I4, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 30,500

US 6 SANDWICH RD

Fair

Over: WATER AGAWAM RIVER

1.3 M E OF NARROWS RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1930 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 16,422

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.3 MI E OF I-495, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 35,483

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.8 MI N OF ST-125, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 73,300

HWY HAYWARD RD

Fair

Over: ST 2

0.25 MI W OF RT 27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,301

ST 1 A/ON RAMP

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

1.4 KM NE OF SUMNER TUN, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 15,000

HWY TINNEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER HARTWELL BROOK

100S OF HARRIS MT. RD., Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 100

ST112 GRSWLDVLL RD

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

AT INT. W/ CALL ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 1,552

ST 9 /ST8A/NORTH

Fair

Over: WATER WAHCONAH FALLS BRK

1.8 MI W OF WINDSOR TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1930 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 9,000

HWY CHASE AVE

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.25 MI S OF RTE 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 3,600

HWY SB LOWLL CON

Fair

Over: HWY LINCOLN ST

.25 MI W OF PLAIN ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 23,700

HWY WINTER ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

AT OAK GROVE MBTA STATIO, Middlesex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,900

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.2 MI SO OF DEAN STREET, Norfolk, MA

Built 1971 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 13,300

ST139 LINDELOF AVE

Fair

Over: ST 24

.4 MI S CANTON T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 26,571

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY ARNOLD RD

AT I-90 MM 75.9, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 26,273

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY ARNOLD RD

AT I-90 MM 75.9, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 24,514

HWY SOUTHMPTN ST

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

1.1 KM S OF JCT I90&93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 29,741

ST 9 /ST8A/NORTH

Fair

Over: WATER WAHCONAH FALLS BRK

0.5 MI E OF ORCHARD RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1952 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 4,875

I 93

Fair

Over: WATER HARRIS BROOK

.32 KM S NEW HAMP STATE L, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 111,342

ST 23 BLANFORD RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR FARMINGTON R

.2 MI EAST OF ROUTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1934 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 2,328

I 195 WB

Fair

Over: WATER LEES RIVER

OVER LEES RIVER, Bristol, MA

Built 1960 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 38,600

I 195 EB

Fair

Over: WATER LEES RIVER

I195 AT SWANSEA T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1960 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 38,250

HWY HARTFORD AVE

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE CANAL

200 FT E OF OAK ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1870 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 7,470

US 20 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.16 KM E JCT 60 & 20, Middlesex, MA

Built 1936 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 28,190

HWY FREMONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER MIDDLE RIVER

.1 MI W OF EXETER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 1,984

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

0.25 MI S RT 93 & VALE ST, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 77,751

ST 2 A/FTCHBRG RD

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

AT AYER SHIRLEY TOWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1975 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 6,959

ST 1 A/OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.8 MI NE OF CALLAHAN TUN., Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 12,413

ST 9 BERKSHIRE TR

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

200 E JCT STAGE RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 2,685

HWY ENDICOTT ST

Fair

Over: ST128

AT SHOPPING CENTERS, Essex, MA

Built 1954 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 17,450

HWY LIGHTHSE RD

Fair

Over: WATER WEIR CREEK

1 MI. SO. OF ST 28, Barnstable, MA

Built 1995 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 7,200

HWY HARDWICK RD

Fair

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

NEW BRAINTREE T. L., Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 2,800

HWY JACKSON ST

Fair

Over: WATER SECOND LEVEL CANAL

.3 MI NW OF 3RD CANAL, Hampden, MA

Built 1996 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 4,559

Showing 2,001-2,050 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.