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 DRSSR HLL RD

Fair

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

50 FT.EST.OF ST.131, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 1,973

ST 9 WORCESTER ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX/MBTA

0.40 KM WLY RT 16, Norfolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 76,400

ST 27 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST 2

RT 27 AT RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1952 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 21,110

HWY HARDING ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.2 MILES E ST 28, Essex, MA

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 7,800

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY HAGGETTS POND RD

AT I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 61,024

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: US 20 N BEACON ST

.2 MI S. CHARLES RV S39, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 43,643

HWY RAMP T-A

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP S-A

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 7,500

HWY RAMP T-D

Fair

Over: HWY RELIEF

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 6,900

HWY RAMP T-D

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP T/U-A/S-A

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 69,000

HWY RAMP T-D

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP S-A

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 69,000

HWY RAMP 1A/D

Fair

Over: I 90 RAMP T-A/D HOTEL D

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 10,600

HWY RAMP E-T

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP S-A

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 13,360

HWY RAMP E-T

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP 1A A/D

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 13,360

HWY RAMP E-T

Fair

Over: HWY ACCESS ROAD

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 13,360

HWY RAMP U-A/D

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP 1A-A/D

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 22,300

HWY RAMP U-D

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP T-U-A

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 9,400

HWY RAMP U-D

Fair

Over: HWY RELIEF

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 9,400

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: HWY BROADWAY

.2 M N OF I90 EB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 127,241

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: HWY W FOURTH ST

B16661B UNIT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 82,300

HWY RIVERNECK RD

Fair

Over: US 3

0.25 MI SO RTE 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 6,700

US 1 NE XWAY

Fair

Over: HWY WEBSTER AVE

.64 KM SW OF JCT SR16&US1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 91,000

HWY YOUNGS RD

Fair

Over: WATER BAKER BROOK

.1 MI. N.E. OF SUMMER ST., Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 700

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Fair

Over: HWY WALNUT ST

2.3 KM S US1, Essex, MA

Built 1940 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 68,900

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: COMB BLKSTNE RIV & PWRR

.1 MI.E. OF ST.RTE 146, Worcester, MA

Built 1982 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 8,224

ST146

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

.3 MILES SOUTH OF ST 122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1981 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 40,001

US 20 CONNECTOR

Fair

Over: COMB PWRR & BLKSTN RIV

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

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 39,293

HWY WALNUT ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.8 KM S. CHARLES RV S23, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 23,146

I 93 NB/US1NB

Fair

Over: ST 28 N MAIN ST

I 93 NB AT ST 28, Norfolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 100,306

ST104 N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: I 495

ST 104 AT I 495, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 7,059

ST116 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER DROWNED LAND BROOK

.15MI SE OF JCT W/ROUTE8A, Berkshire, MA

Built 1959 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,400

ST146 A/QUAKER HWY

Fair

Over: WATER BACON BROOK

1 MILE WEST OF ST. 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1931 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 8,300

HWY KENDALL ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1 MI FROM ST 1 A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1986 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 5,400

HWY WALNUT RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILES RIVER

0.1 MI SOUTH OF CHESTNUT, Essex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 7,800

ST 41 GRT BARRNGTN

Fair

Over: I 90

.1 MI S OF RTE 102 A6, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,345

HWY CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

0.5MI E OF JCT W/ ROUTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 2,845

ST 62 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.32 KM SW RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1886 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 14,400

HWY LINDELL AVE

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC RIVER

AT BROOKS STREET, Worcester, MA

Built 1936 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 8,006

US 20 SOUTHBRGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.1 MI E OF ST-56, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 32,520

I 95 RAMP G

Fair

Over: I 95 RAMP F

.1 MI E US1, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 31,300

HWY POND ST

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

JUST WEST OF ST152, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 6,853

HWY RANDOLPH ST

Fair

Over: WATER CADY BROOK

600 FT E OF ST-169, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 1,000

ST 9 BELMONT ST

Fair

Over: HWY GOLDSBERRY ST

.1 MI.WST.OF I-290, Worcester, MA

Built 1953 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 28,647

ST 62 HUBBRDSTON

Fair

Over: WATER BURNSHIRT RIVER

1 M W OF HUBBARDSTON, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 1,933

HWY HOWE ST

Fair

Over: ST213

1.3 MI E ST28, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 25,700

ST111 NB/MASS AVE

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB

1500 FT E OF ST-27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,352

HWY RESRVATN RD

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

1.2 KM NE OF WOLCOTT SQ., Suffolk, MA

Built 1898 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,300

I 93 RAMP K

Fair

Over: COMB I93NB & RAMP MW

0.5 M S. OF I-90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 12,563

HWY DEDHAM ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

T/LWESTWOOD/NORWOOD, Norfolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 17,845

ST134

Fair

Over: US 6 WB/MID CAPE HWY

0.5 M E OF YARMOUTH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1955 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 43,320

HWY TILESTON ST

Fair

Over: TR NRTHRN STRAND COMM

0.25 MI N OF ST-16, Middlesex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,400

Showing 2,301-2,350 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.