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 RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

.2 MI N OF MIDDLE ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 120

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

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

Built 1959 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 66,203

HWY CENTRE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

1.6 KM NE JCT SR109&RT1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1888 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 27,000

ST 1 A/SB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF & PED WALKW

.16 KM N OF CALLAHAN TUN, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 43,707

HWY OLD STATE HW

Fair

Over: RR CSX

0.1 MI N OF US 20 122.86, Hampden, MA

Built 1900 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 780

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

.5 MI W OF MARSHFIELD TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1962 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 500

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB ROTARY

MM 43.0 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1965 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 7,667

HWY NB LOWLL CON

Fair

Over: HWY LINCOLN ST

0.5 MI WEST RTE 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 17,510

US 44 HARDING ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.1 M N OF RTE 18 / 495, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 29,785

HWY PLIMTH PLNTN

Fair

Over: WATER EEL RIVER

1.5 M E OF RTE 3, Plymouth, MA

Built 1951 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 25,600

HWY SUNDRLAND RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.7 MI E HADLEY, Hampshire, MA

Built 1926 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 6,078

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: HWY SWORD ST

AT MM 2.6, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 33,075

I 290 WB

Fair

Over: HWY SWORD ST

2.6 MM POST, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 39,347

ST151 NATHAN ELLIS

Fair

Over: RR MACRR (OTIS SPUR)

0.75 M S OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1941 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 24,568

HWY J FITCH HWY

Fair

Over: WATER FALLULAH BROOK

450FT W OF PEARL HILL RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1964 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 10,997

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

MM 42.6 ON I-91 SB, Franklin, MA

Built 1964 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 15,600

HWY PICKENS ST

Fair

Over: ST140 NB

1.5 MI SE OF TAUNTON T.L., Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,456

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY RIVERSIDE AVE

1000FT S OF JCT 193&SR60, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 179,680

I 93

Fair

Over: ST 60 EB/SALEM ST

1.1 KM S OF ROSVELT CIR., Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 266,500

I 93

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

.8 KM S OF JCT I93&SR60, Middlesex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 250,350

ST146 SB

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI. N. OF U.S.-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 28,704

ST 9 BELCHERTN RD

Fair

Over: WATER FLAT BROOK

100 E JCT DOANE RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 6,898

HWY FRED SMTH RD

Fair

Over: WATER PHILLIPS BROOK

.1 MI. NE. OF RT. 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1988 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 150

HWY WYMN-WIL RD

Fair

Over: ST 2

.5 MILES EAST OF ST. 140, Worcester, MA

Built 1985 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 850

HWY VIADUCT ST

Fair

Over: HWY NORTHERN AVE

AT WORLD TRADE CENTER, Suffolk, MA

Built 1915 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 700

ST 3 RAMP X&Y @T

Fair

Over: HWY CENTRE ST

Q ADAMS ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 39.0 t

HWY ESSEX ST

Fair

Over: US 1 BROADWAY

.5 MI SOUTH MAIN ST, Essex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 34,300

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: I 190 SB OFF RAMP N

.5 MILES WEST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 18,209

I 90

Fair

Over: US 5 RIVERDALE ST

MM 46.1 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 47,245

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

AT SHAWSHEEN RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 13,319

ST 1 A/NB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

2000 FT NE CALLAHAN TUN, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 27,823

HWY S UNION ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.64 KM N I495, Essex, MA

Built 1995 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 10,700

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTHERN CANAL

JUST S OF MERRIMACK RIV, Middlesex, MA

Built 1848 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 11,897

HWY SPLDNG BK RD

Fair

Over: WATER SAWMILL RIVER

1M E OF RT63 NR LEVERETT, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 100

ST 30 COMM AVE

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEWTON-WESTON TOWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 35,200

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

0.15 KM S.OF RTE 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1995 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 4,800

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY FLANDERS RD

1.7 MI SE OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1966 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 51,588

HWY PARK RD

Fair

Over: I 90

AT INT 15 S2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 8,922

I 195 WB

Fair

Over: HWY SANFORD RD

.6 MI E OF FALL RIVER C.L, Bristol, MA

Built 1964 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 28,012

HWY MORRSSEY BLV

Fair

Over: WATER PATTENS COVE

.48 KM W OF U OF MASS, Suffolk, MA

Built 1973 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 81,700

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: OTHER PARKING AREA

UNIT 3, Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 148,110

HWY ALBANY ST

Fair

Over: COMB I90 & AMTRAK

WEST OF I93 SB OVER I90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 15,300

ST 37 WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

ST 37 AT PLAIN ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1924 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 32,800

US 6 EB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: WATER BASS RIVER

AT DENNIS YARMOUTH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1970 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 26,431

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY WHEELOCK AVE

I-90 MM 95.9, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 46,910

HWY POND ST

Fair

Over: ST146 SB

1.2 MI. N. OF MILL ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1983 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 500

HWY MYLOD ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.2 MI SW OF ST 1A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1985 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 16,300

ST 1 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: HWY PRISON ACCESS RD

.6 MI SW OF WINTER ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1952 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 9,072

I 195 WB

Fair

Over: HWY MAIN ST

3.6 M E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1970 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 15,072

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: OTHER MDC AQUEDUCT

0.1 MI NLY RT 30, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 150,095

Showing 2,151-2,200 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.