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 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST 9 WORCESTER RD

.4 MI S OF I-90, Middlesex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 38,300

HWY CUTLER RD

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.9 MI WEST ST 1A, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 775

HWY HIGHLAND ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

AT IPSWICH LINE, Essex, MA

Built 1833 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 4,100

HWY LYNN STREET

Fair

Over: WATER PINES RIVER

0.05M N OF HADLEY ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 5,360

ST 28 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

READING-NO.READING T.L., Middlesex, MA

Built 1904 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 32,100

US202 /ST10/N ELM

Fair

Over: WATER POWDER MILL BROOK

.1 M N JCT N. DAME ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 44.0 t ADT: 51,466

US 1 RAMP TC

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 51,207

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: HWY W FOURTH ST

UNIT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 164,570

ST140 W CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: I 495

3 MI S OF ST-126, Norfolk, MA

Built 2006 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 23,625

ST 12 WORCESTER RD

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

AT CAMPGROUND RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 4,227

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: ST 12 SB

AT MILE 1.0, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 22,557

HWY ALLEN RD

Fair

Over: WATER JABISH BROOK

350 E OF RT 202 INT, Hampshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 2,716

I 90 EB ON-RAMP

Fair

Over: COMB I90 W ONRP A & CSX

AT TOLL PLAZAS S104B, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 12,400

ST 24 NB

Fair

Over: I 495

ST 24 AT I 495, Plymouth, MA

Built 1979 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 80,302

I 391

Fair

Over: HWY MCKINSTRY AVE

1 M N JCT I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1978 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 49,525

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: US 7 EAST ST

MM 7.5/A9/1M N. STCKBRDG, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 17,712

HWY W BRITANNIA

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER CANAL

0.1 MI WEST OF 3K6, Bristol, MA

Built 2005 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 4,958

HWY BELLEVUE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

1.8 KM NE OF JCTSR109&RT1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1936 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 3,100

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY CENTRAL ST

I-90 MM 115.0, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 52,197

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY CENTRAL ST

I-90 MM 115.0, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 52,861

I 90

Fair

Over: COMB I-90RMP-CANAL-PWRR

.2 MI W. ROUTE 146, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 91,703

ST129 RICHMOND RD

Fair

Over: WATER MIDDLESEX CANAL

.32 KM W OF RTE 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1974 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 23,700

HWY GEO BROWN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.16 KM NE SALEM & BROWN, Middlesex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,700

HWY CAMBRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: COMB I90 E RPS BDL & CS

.16 KM S CHARLES RV S105, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 33,200

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: ST 24 SB

I 495 AT ST 24, Plymouth, MA

Built 1979 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 30,936

HWY SARGENTS WAY

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY PLAIN R

.1 M E OF 28/WAS MEDOW LN, Plymouth, MA

Built 1988 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 8,500

HWY LONGWOOD AVE

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1897 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 15,435

I 190 NB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: ST 2 EB ON RAMP

.5 MILES SOUTH OF RTE 13, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 3,157

I 290 EB

Fair

Over: I 495

2 MILES NORTH OF ROUTE 20, Middlesex, MA

Built 1968 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 30,965

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: HWY FURNACE BROOK PKWY

1.2 MI N OF JCT I93&128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1959 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 185,315

HWY MASS AVE

Fair

Over: ST 9 HUNTINGTON AVE

1.1 KM S OF CHARLES RIV, Suffolk, MA

Built 1941 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 33,100

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: HWY MORRISSEY BLVD

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

Built 1958 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 188,320

HWY HERRING RD

Fair

Over: WATER M BR WESTFIELD RIV

50 N. OF E. RIVER RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 129

HWY CLIFTON ST

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA/BMRR & ORANGE

AT WASHINGTON INTERSECT, Middlesex, MA

Built 1899 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 5,904

I 93 SB ONRAMP

Fair

Over: HWY WEST ST

1 MI N OF JCT I93&128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 4,949

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: US 7 EAST ST

MM 7.5/A9/1M N. STKBRDG, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 12,220

ST 16 WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: ST 9 WORCESTER ST

RT 16 AT RT 9, Norfolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 37,800

I 93 /US1/ST3

Fair

Over: HWY THEATRE ACCESS RD

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

Built 1957 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 177,033

I 93 RAMP XXE

Fair

Over: HWY BROADWAY/EXT

0.1M E. OF I93 NB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 6,724

HWY PINE AVE

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY PLAIN R

.25 MI E OF CLINTON ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1999 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 2,000

HWY CARLTON ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

AT STORROW DRIVE S48A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 40,603

HWY FOUR MILE BK

Fair

Over: WATER FOUR MILE BROOK

.2 M. E. OF ST 63, Franklin, MA

Built 1987 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 131

HWY SQUARESHIRE

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

.4 MI W. OF CHSE HIL RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1990 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 650

I 90 EX 117 IN 13

Fair

Over: HWY SPEEN ST

INT 13 TOLL PLAZA, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 52,165

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: HWY FAIRVIEW ST

MM 42.7 ON I-91 SB, Franklin, MA

Built 1966 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 15,587

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: HWY FAIRVIEW ST

MM 42.7 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1966 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 14,632

HWY HOSPITAL RD

Fair

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

0.6 MI W. OF JACKSON RD., Worcester, MA

Built 2008 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 3,120

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

.25 MI SW OF RTE 12, Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 4,682

HWY OLD CNTY RD

Fair

Over: WATER E BR WESTPORT RIV

.9 MI E OF RTE 88, Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 5,228

HWY TOPSFIELD RD

Fair

Over: I 95

2.1 MI N IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1974 Load: 44.8 t ADT: 10,400

Showing 2,601-2,650 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.