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

ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

Fair

Over: WATER JONES RIVER

.8 MI NORTH OF RTE 3A, Plymouth, MA

Built 1955 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 69,123

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY VALLEY ST & FLLSWY

.6 MI N OF JCT. I93&SR60, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 210,316

HWY MARKET ST

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

JUST WEST OF 3A, Plymouth, MA

Built 1964 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 7,357

ST 3 RAMP X @ T

Fair

Over: HWY RAMPS C & CC

OFF RAMP @ T, Norfolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 20,800

HWY RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

175 S OF JCT W/ RT116/8A, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 300

US 1 NB/GL EDWRDS

Fair

Over: I 95 NB

US 1 AT I 95NB, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 16,494

ST147 MEMORIAL AVE

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK & CONN RIV

MEMRL BR RR#61.43, Hampden, MA

Built 1922 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 16,600

ST 97 HIGH ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

.8 MI E OF US-1, Essex, MA

Built 1920 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 16,000

HWY COMMON ST

Fair

Over: RR PCRR (ABANDONED)

.4 MI SE OF ST1 A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1939 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 15,800

HWY CHESTNUT PLN

Fair

Over: WATER WEST BROOK

AT HATFIELD TL, Franklin, MA

Built 1957 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,422

HWY CROSBY RD

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH BROOK

.1 MI. SO. OF SOUTH ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1989 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 682

HWY NEW MARLBORO

Fair

Over: WATER RAWSON BROOK

@ HARMON RD INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 2015 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 480

HWY MAIN ST LEED

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

JCT ARCH ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1925 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 1,500

HWY GLENDALE MDL

Fair

Over: RR HRR

0.5MI E OF RTE183@RR68.61, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 2,198

I 290 RAMP A

Fair

Over: I 290 /MILLBROOK/RAMP C

290EB EX 22 .25 W BURNCO, Worcester, MA

Built 1962 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 28,076

ST 2 EB RAMP

Fair

Over: WATER ALEWIFE BROOK

1.2 KM E RT 2 & LAKE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1986 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 6,361

HWY COOK ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

BETW RT16&GILBOA ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1995 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 1,050

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: HWY MECHANIC ST

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

Built 1977 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 24,800

ST 2 A/MAPLE ST

Fair

Over: OTHER MINUTEMAN BIKE PTH

.16 KM E RT 2A & MASS AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1919 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 12,000

HWY MILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

.2 MI. SOUTH OF ST-110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 750

HWY BPTST HLL RD

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 60.7 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 100

HWY BLOOD RD

Fair

Over: WATER KEENAN BROOK

.1 MI N OF SAUNDERSDALE R, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 258

I 291

Fair

Over: COMB CHICPE RIV & ST141

MM 5.0 ON I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 1954 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 53,700

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER SATUCKET RIVER

.48KM N JCT POND ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1927 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 6,000

HWY FERRY ST

Fair

Over: WATER LOWER MILL POND

.1 MI E OF PLEASANT ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1880 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 6,611

HWY POOR FARM RD

Fair

Over: ST 2

MM110.1 E OF ST-110/111, Worcester, MA

Built 1950 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 1,225

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER THIRD LEVEL CANAL

N OF SOUTH ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1978 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 26,121

ST152 F J KELLY BL

Fair

Over: I 95

.2 MILES SOUTH PLAINVILL, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 17,091

HWY COPPOLA ST

Fair

Over: ST146

MM0.7 0.1 MI E OF ST146A, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 800

ST 9 WEST MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

100 E JCT VERNON ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 6,331

HWY MASS AVE

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 50,400

HWY ENDICOTT ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.5 MI E ST 128, Essex, MA

Built 1952 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 28,800

HWY YMCA DR

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA/BMRR & DRIVE

0.1 MI SW RT 3A & HALE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1892 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 9,500

HWY MOODY ST

Fair

Over: WATER WESTERN CANAL

.8 KM SW. OF RT. 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1913 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 3,700

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

.7 MI SW OF I 495, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 60,307

HWY HOLBROOK RD

Fair

Over: I 395

1.2 MI SO. OF SUTTON ROAD, Worcester, MA

Built 1973 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 38,679

HWY MAYNARD ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.5 MI. WEST OF ROUTE 135, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 1,700

I 190 NB ON RAMP D

Fair

Over: ST 12 SB & W BOYLSTON DR

.5 MI S OF ARARAT ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 5,211

I 93 RAMP NS

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93 RAMP NS, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 31,810

I 93 RAMP SN

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93 RAMP SN, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 32,800

HWY HGHLND AV NB

Fair

Over: ST 24 SB

NEAR ST 79/ST 24 SB, Bristol, MA

Built 1954 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 876

HWY OLD STATE HW

Fair

Over: OTHER ASHUWILLTICOOK RT

0.1 MI W OF ST 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1985 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 3,879

ST122 PROVDENCE RD

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

1.5 MI. S. OF GRAFTON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1941 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 5,317

ST114 ANDOVER ST

Fair

Over: RR ABANDONED

.8K EAST OF ST 128, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 46,100

ST 41 GRT BARRNGTN

Fair

Over: WATER WILLIAMS RIVER

0.3 MI N OF GT BARR TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1931 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 4,267

HWY HOWE ST

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

1MI. N OF HOPKINTON TL., Middlesex, MA

Built 1990 Load: 42.7 t ADT: 929

HWY HOWE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1 MI S OF CORDAVILLE RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1990 Load: 42.7 t ADT: 600

ST 28 BOURNE BR RD

Fair

Over: US 6

190FT N OF BOURNE BRIDGE, Barnstable, MA

Built 1985 Load: 42.7 t ADT: 41,801

ST141 BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE RIVER

SOUTH END OF ROUTE 33, Hampden, MA

Built 2006 Load: 42.7 t ADT: 9,000

I 95 RAMP G

Fair

Over: ST128

.7 MI S FOREST STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1988 Load: 42.7 t ADT: 7,500

Showing 2,451-2,500 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.