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 COLRAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

JCT OF RIVERSIDE DR, Franklin, MA

Built 1910 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 5,200

HWY LORING ST

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

JUST W OF I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1916 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 20,000

ST 16 MYST VAL PKY

Fair

Over: COMB MYSTIC R & PED/BKY

.3 MI E OF ST RTE 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1988 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 39,725

HWY MIDDLESEX RD

Fair

Over: WATER BRIDGE MEADOW BRK

100 YDS N OF ST-113, Middlesex, MA

Built 1930 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 25,215

HWY THOMAS ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER

AT QUINEPOXET RIVER, Worcester, MA

Built 1904 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,245

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: I 90 EXIT 45 RAMPS

MM 45.8 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 23,994

HWY DAN SHAY HWY

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

1.5 M N JCT ORANGE T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1990 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 15,000

I 395 RAMP X

Fair

Over: I 395 RAMP W

.3 MI SE OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 4,692

HWY TREMONT ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

2ND BR S OF RUGGLES ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 22,250

HWY MAYNARD HILL

Fair

Over: WATER CLESSON BROOK

800 N OF CHARLEMONT RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 120

HWY POND ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.1MI SOUTH OF VILLAGE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 17,100

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE CANAL

1.4 MI SW OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 3,452

HWY HOWLAND RD

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

0.1MI WEST OF SHERWOOD LN, Plymouth, MA

Built 1984 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,068

HWY NORTHWEST RD

Fair

Over: WATER ROBERTS MEADOW BRK

AT JCT CHESTERFIELD ROAD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 776

I 90 RAMP J

Fair

Over: I 90

AT INT 14 S1, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 37,629

HWY MOWER ST

Fair

Over: WATER TATNUCK BROOK

.1 MI. W. OF TATNUCK SQ., Worcester, MA

Built 1920 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 3,831

HWY STORES ST NB

Fair

Over: ST 12 SB & W BOYLSTON DR

100 FT E. OF I-190, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 6,979

HWY BERKELEY ST

Fair

Over: I 90

.32 KM S.PUBLIC GARDENS S, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 12,300

HWY W FOURTH ST

Fair

Over: COMB FNDRY ST&MBTA&AMTK

1.6 KM SE OF JCT I93&90, Suffolk, MA

Built 1893 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 21,630

I 93 RAMP XX

Fair

Over: HWY W FOURTH ST

0.1 K E. OF 193 NB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 6,041

HWY FRESH PND LN

Fair

Over: OTHER GREENWAY M/U PATH

150 M JCT SR 16&2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1927 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 388

US 20 W HOUSATONIC

Fair

Over: WATER SW BR HOUSATONIC R

1.68 MI. E. OF ROUTE 41, Berkshire, MA

Built 1932 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 10,603

HWY CEDAR ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.9 KM NW OF JCT SR28&38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1999 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 9,400

ST143 CHESTRFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

@ JCT. OF ROUTES 143 & 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1931 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 1,942

I 93 RAMP XX

Fair

Over: HWY HOV EB

2.5 M E. OF 193 NB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 4,578

HWY RAMP F

Fair

Over: HWY RAMP B NB QA ON RP

.2MI FROM CAPENS CIRCLE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 23,405

HWY DEPOT ST

Fair

Over: WATER DWIGHT MFG CANAL

UNDER I391 @ DELTA PARK, Hampden, MA

Built 1997 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 300

HWY STONEHSE HLL

Fair

Over: WATER RESERVOIR OUT

.1 MI N OF RESERVOIR ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1993 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 130

HWY JACKSON ST

Fair

Over: OTHER NORTHAMPTON BK WAY

0.15 M N OF PROSPECT ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1890 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 7,682

US 44 WINTHROP ST

Fair

Over: WATER SEGREGANSETT RIVER

.2 MI SW OF BURT STREET, Bristol, MA

Built 1901 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 18,362

ST 12 SB

Fair

Over: HWY NEPONSET ST

.1 MI. W. OF I-190, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 6,625

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Fair

Over: HWY MIDDLESEX TPK

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

Built 1962 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 96,637

ST107 BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER MILL CREEK

IN CHELSEA, Suffolk, MA

Built 1993 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 19,977

HWY NASHUA ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

.1 MI W. OF I-190 N. END, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 10,358

HWY GREENWOOD ST

Fair

Over: WATER DIVERSON CHANNEL

.1 MI S OF I- 90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 5,524

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.8 KM W. ARMORY S19, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 9,827

ST146 SB

Fair

Over: HWY SMITH RD

.5MI. S. OF CEN. TPK., Worcester, MA

Built 1982 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 22,016

COMB US 6 & MACRR

Fair

Over: WATER WAREHAM RIVER

.1 MI E OF MAIN ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1992 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 23,922

HWY BAKER ST

Fair

Over: I 90 EB

.2 MI N. ST 102 A2, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 517

HWY RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

1.5 MI E ROYALSTON, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 1,000

HWY LIBERTY ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

0.16 KM N. OF GROVE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1984 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 17,300

HWY RAMP T-A/D

Fair

Over: I 90 & RAMP 1A-A/D

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 14,400

HWY RAMP 1A-D

Fair

Over: HWY ARRIVAL ROADWAY

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN T, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 10,600

I 93 RAMP N-S

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

LEVERETT CIR-UNIT 2, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 34,304

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.3 MI S OF VILLAGE RD, Norfolk, MA

Built 1900 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 1,300

HWY PUMPKIN HOLL

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

0.2M N OF RT71@EGRMNT BDR, Berkshire, MA

Built 1999 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 647

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

0.5 MI E INT ST 2A, Franklin, MA

Built 1981 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 14,483

ST146 NB

Fair

Over: HWY SMITH RD

.5MI. S. OF CEN. TPK., Worcester, MA

Built 1982 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 21,116

HWY OTIS ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.7 MI S OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1986 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 6,519

HWY ANDOVER RD

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.1 MI NE ANDOVER & SALEM, Middlesex, MA

Built 2006 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 6,207

Showing 2,351-2,400 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.