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 FOREST ST

Fair

Over: ST128

1.5MI S LOWELL STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1988 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 16,900

HWY HMLET MLL RD

Fair

Over: WATER OTTER RIVER

1000 S OF ST 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 1,000

ST 9 TURNPIKE RD

Fair

Over: ST 30 E MAIN ST

1.5 MI. W. OF I-495, Worcester, MA

Built 1930 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 30,492

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: HWY FRONTAGE RD NB

ALBANY ST AND FRONTAGE RD, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 127,241

ST148 FISKDALE RD

Fair

Over: RR CSX

AT CORNER OF MILL ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1987 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,721

US 20 HUNTINGTN RD

Fair

Over: WATER GOLD MINE BROOK

0.9 MI W OF HUNTINGTON TL, Hampden, MA

Built 1930 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,716

ST 43 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER KINDERHOOK CREEK

800 S OF POTTER MT RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1969 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,436

ST 3 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

AT MARSHFIELD SCITUATE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2001 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 11,500

HWY ROCK HRBR RD

Fair

Over: US 6 MID CAPE HWY

1 MI W OF EASTHAM TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,192

US 1 NE XWAY

Fair

Over: HWY HYSIL AVE

.4 MI NW OF JCT SR16&US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 66,200

HWY WHITE BGLY

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.7 MI. NRTH. OF RTE.9, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,312

ST 32 WEST ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

.1 M W JCT VERNON ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 1966 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 29,870

ST122 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

AT CORNER OF CROSS STREET, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 4,360

HWY S UNION ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.8 KM SO MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1927 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 11,000

US 1 NEWBRPRT TPK

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

0.2 MI N OF LITTLE RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1998 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 11,600

HWY ROOSEVELT AV

Fair

Over: WATER WATERSHOPS POND

.5 M S OF WILBRAHAM RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1937 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 4,785

HWY DEPOT RD

Fair

Over: ST 2

1.5 MILES EAST OF ST. 140, Worcester, MA

Built 1985 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 5,407

HWY MAYWOOD ST

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

.1 MI. W OF PARK AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1930 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 3,717

HWY RIVER RD

Fair

Over: I 93

.5 MILES SOUTH MERRIMAC R, Essex, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 13,941

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 108,879

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY BROOKFIELD RD

.7 MI W OF STAFFORD ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 38,661

HWY CONCORD ST

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

500 N OF SCHOOL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1992 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 14,425

HWY PRINCETON ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASNEBUMSKIT BROOK

0.4 MI N OF ST-122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1954 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 410

HWY FOREST ST

Fair

Over: I 93

.6 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 3,750

HWY LOWELL AVE

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.8 KM S. CHARLES RV S22, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 14,500

HWY HIGH ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.8 KM NE ROGERS ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1986 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 5,114

HWY E RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER SMITH BROOK

1.8 MI NORTH OF SMITH RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 260

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: OTHER COCHITUATE TRAIL

I-90 MM 116.4, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 48,475

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: HWY BEMIS RD

MM 16.0 ON I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 27,900

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: HWY BEMIS RD

MM 16.0 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 27,500

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY SCHOOL ST

2.0 MI E OF I 95, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 76,552

HWY WOODLAND RD

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.32 KM E. CHARLES RV, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 3,232

HWY MEADOW ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

125 W OF JCT. CORTICELLI, Hampshire, MA

Built 1977 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 3,571

ST 3 NB/PLGRM HWY

Fair

Over: HWY HEDGES POND RD

11.5 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1956 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 23,071

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

2.4 KM N OF HARVARD BR., Middlesex, MA

Built 1982 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 13,500

HWY BOSTON ST

Fair

Over: TR AMTRAK & RED LINE

.04 M.OF I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1977 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 15,300

HWY DORCHSTR AVE

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

2.4 KM SE OF JET I93&I90, Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 10,991

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY MILLBURY AVE

I-90 MM 95.3, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 48,475

HWY HIGHLAND AVE

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT NEWTON T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1875 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 19,500

ST 32 STONE ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

300 S JCT US20/PARK ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1892 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 6,541

HWY BATES AVE

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

2.9 KM N OF JCT I93&128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 4,138

HWY WINTER ST

Fair

Over: I 95 /ST128

.4 KM S OF 128 INT, Middlesex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 40,700

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST 19 BRIMFIELD RD

MM 69.6 ON I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 41,638

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: ST 19 BRIMFIELD RD

MM 69.6 ON I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 41,638

ST 62 BURLNGTN AVE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

AT RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 23,146

ST133 LOWELL ST

Fair

Over: I 93

1.2 MI S I 495, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 26,000

HWY BLAKEMORE ST

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

3.8 W OF RT 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1882 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 2,200

I 93 SB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

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

Built 1958 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 15,647

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY BROOKFIELD RD

MASS PIKE MM 82.3, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 39,545

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY PLAIN R

.1 M S OF SUMMER ST., Plymouth, MA

Built 1921 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 8,405

Showing 2,251-2,300 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.