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 93 NB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: I 93

COMMERCE WAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 5,069

I 93 OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: I 93 & NB ON RAMP

COMMERCE WAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 2,389

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: ST150

AT EXIT 54, Essex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 31,411

HWY MARKET ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & MBTA/CSX

.32 KM S. CHARLES RV S41, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 27,900

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: HWY HALLET STREET

4.8 MI S OF JCTI90&I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 190,508

HWY HIXVILLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER SHINGLE ISL RIVER

.6 MI SE OF REED RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1910 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 1,357

HWY TOWNSND HRBR

Fair

Over: WATER MULPUS BROOK

.7 MI NE OF RT 2-A, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 3,553

US 20 PARK AV CRCL

Fair

Over: US 5 RIVERDALE ST

AT NORTH END BRIDGE, Hampden, MA

Built 1952 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 35,958

ST 3 CAMBRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: COMB ST3/ST28 & CHARLES

.2 MI W OF BLOSSOM ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1905 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 29,100

I 291

Fair

Over: HWY FULLER RD

AT CHICOPEE RV G13, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 46,423

HWY FRONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER SATUIT BROOK

NEAR ED FOSTER ROAD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1986 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 21,077

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY FLANAGAN HILL RD

.6 MI. EAST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 19,010

ST 2

Fair

Over: ST 32 PETERSHAM RD

MM 75.2 ON ST 2, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 1,491

ST 22 ESSEX ST

Fair

Over: ST128

0.2 MI E OF BRIMBAL, Essex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 20,200

I 93 & RMP SA-CN

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIV/RAMPS

N OF TD GARDEN, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 155,200

HWY ZOAR RD

Fair

Over: WATER PELHAM BROOK

AT INT W/ ROWE ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 600

ST133 E MAIN ST

Fair

Over: I 95

2.9 KM E GEORGETON CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 14,100

HWY UNION ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

MARSHFIELD-NORWELL TOWNLN, Plymouth, MA

Built 1920 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 5,357

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: HWY GREENLAND RD

@ MM 10.6, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 16,294

HWY LYMAN ST

Fair

Over: WATER LYMAN POND CREEK

2.7 KM E OF RT.95, Middlesex, MA

Built 1999 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 14,500

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: I 90 EXIT 45 RAMPS

MM 45.8 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 25,343

HWY RP TO I90&91

Fair

Over: US 5 RIVERDALE ST

JCT US 5, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 8,405

ST122 PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER TATNUK BROOK

400 FT W. OF CHANDLER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 15,411

HWY GARDNER ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.8 KM NW OF JCTSR109&RT1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1906 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 1,400

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: HWY MIDDLESEX TPK

0.4 KM NE RT 95 & RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 94,875

I 391 & RAMPS

Fair

Over: ST116 CHICOPEE ST

MM 1.9 ON I-391, Hampden, MA

Built 1981 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 48,622

HWY RCKY HILL RD

Fair

Over: ST116

.4 M W AMHERST T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 12,931

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE BROOK

0.2 M E OF RT 32, Hampden, MA

Built 1993 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 1,163

ST 8 BEAVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

0.3 MI N OF ST 2, Berkshire, MA

Built 1954 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 2,711

ST 28 N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: OTHER BIKE PATH

2.6 KM NW OF HOLBROOK T.L, Norfolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 40,100

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: COMB MDC AQUEDUCT & CSX

MM 61.2 /1.5 MI N OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1962 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 41,712

I 290 GRFTN ST ONR

Fair

Over: HWY KEESE ST

.3 MI N OF HAMILTON ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 6,994

I 290 SHWBY ST OFR

Fair

Over: HWY MBTA PKNG ACCSS

.1 MI.E.OF WASHINGTON SQ., Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 9,414

HWY ARLINGTON ST

Fair

Over: ST 2

1 MI NW ST-27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 550

HWY EVERETT ST

Fair

Over: COMB I90&CSX/MBTA&LNCLN

1.6 KM W.RAILROAD YARDS S, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 15,517

HWY MASS AVE

Fair

Over: I 93

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 40,100

HWY GOULD RD

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.3 MI. N. OF CEMETARY RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 260

HWY STAFFORD ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

1.4 MI SW OF OXFORD T.L, Worcester, MA

Built 1914 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 3,851

ST 24 EXTENSION/RI

Fair

Over: I 195

EXTENSION I 195 TO R.I., Bristol, MA

Built 1963 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 61,635

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY MECHANIC ST

MM 18.9 .2 M S OF ST2, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 14,985

HWY PONKAPOAG TR

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1

.8 KM E OF CANTON T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 10,300

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

1.2 MI SW OF DEPOT ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1937 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 30,300

HWY MAPLE AVE

Fair

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

.65 MI E OF RTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1952 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 2,429

ST 24

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

.1 MI N OF BERKLEY T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1950 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 50,018

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: I 190 SB OFF RAMP N

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

Built 1979 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 14,835

ST143 CHESTRFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER MEEKINS BROOK

.2 M W JCT ST 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1931 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 1,857

HWY OLIVE ST

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

.1 MI SO OF ST 123, Bristol, MA

Built 1920 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 7,112

HWY RAMP L NB ON

Fair

Over: ST 3 NB

.16 KM SW OF RAMP F, Norfolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 15,076

HWY PERKINS AVE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.1 MI E OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1895 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 6,600

HWY WARWICK RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

2.15 MI NE OF ST MARYS ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 647

Showing 2,201-2,250 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.