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 NEPONSET ST

Fair

Over: I 95 SB

.6 MI N OF SHARON T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 44.8 t ADT: 30,584

ST111 MASS AVE

Fair

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

1.5 MI W RT 2 & ST 111, Middlesex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 7,200

HWY WILDER ST

Fair

Over: RR BMRR PAN AM

0.40 KM SE WALKER ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 14,200

HWY PLIMPTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.3 MI SE OF RTE 1A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1925 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 5,286

HWY OLD CHSTR RD

Fair

Over: I 90

26.1 MILE MARKER, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 200

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY BROOKS ST

.16 KM S. CHARLES RV S34, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 55,255

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY BROOKS ST

.16 KM S. CHARLES RV S34, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 51,617

HWY BERKELEY ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

1.7KM W. OF S., Suffolk, MA

Built 1982 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 19,900

ST104 PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: ST 24

ST 104 AT ST 24, Plymouth, MA

Built 1979 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 14,286

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: ST 24 SB

I 495 AT ST 24, Plymouth, MA

Built 1979 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 25,428

HWY NEW BRIDGE

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

MP 15/950 MBCR, Plymouth, MA

Built 1900 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 4,100

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: ST141 EB

MM 15.1 ON I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 34,413

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: ST141 EB

MM 15.1 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 37,512

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: US 1 BROADWAY

.5 MILES NORTH ESSEX ST, Essex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 26,400

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: ST 62 PRINCETON RD

1 MILE WEST OF ST 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1980 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 16,226

HWY BROADWAY ST

Fair

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

GRANITEVILLE - SECTION, Middlesex, MA

Built 1870 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 800

I 93 NB

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

1.1 MI N OF ST-129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 69,587

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

1.1 MI N OF ST-129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 75,797

HWY E HOOSAC ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILLER BROOK

0.1 MI WEST OF EAST ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 776

HWY DANIEL SHAYS

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

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

Built 1935 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 30,258

ST 58 TREMONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

AT WAREHAM LINE, Plymouth, MA

Built 1953 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 10,993

HWY NASHAWENA ST

Fair

Over: WATER W FALMOUTH HARBOR

.7 MI W OF RTE 28, Barnstable, MA

Built 1992 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 4,655

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: ST141 WB

MM 15.2 ON I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 27,094

HWY BOSTON AVE

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

JUST NW OF RTE 16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 10,600

HWY NEWCOMB ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 M N OF JCT N.WASHINGTN, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 1,300

HWY WARREN ST

Fair

Over: RR ABANDONED

NEXT TO WARREN STREET CAF, Essex, MA

Built 1946 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 2,900

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: I 95 RAMP J

1.7 MI S LOWELL STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1988 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 106,900

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: ST148 BROOKFIELD RD

AT MM 75 ON I90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 19,756

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: ST148 BROOKFIELD RD

I-90 MM 74.9, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 18,559

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

MP QNF 5.65, Bristol, MA

Built 1986 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 6,465

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER

300 FEET N OF RIVER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 17,827

HWY 85 CONNECTOR

Fair

Over: HWY PLEASANT ST

1 MI E RT 495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1978 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 18,574

HWY S MERRIAM ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

0.1 MI N OF US 20 151.06, Berkshire, MA

Built 1992 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 6,827

HWY BURTON HLL R

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

350 E. OF INT W/ RTE 116, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 120

I 290 EB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: I 395 SB

JUST NORTH OF U.S. 20, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 14,295

HWY PLAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.25 MI E OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1987 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 4,928

HWY HURON AVE

Fair

Over: OTHER GREENWAY M/U PATH

2.4 KM S OF JCT SR2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1985 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 13,200

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY MONTGOMERY ST

MM 48.8 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 24,073

ST 16 WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: I 95 /ST128

RT 16 AT RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 67,758

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.6 KM W OF JCT SR28&38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1889 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 7,600

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY SHORE DR

.1 MI S OF ARARAT ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 27,107

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: HWY SHORE DR

.1 MI SO OF ARARAT ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 36,870

US 1 RAMP TC

Fair

Over: I 93 RMPS SN NS ST

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 35,800

HWY S BOS BPS RD

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

AT FRONTAGE RD NB, Suffolk, MA

Built 1998 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 13,190

US 7 WILLMSTWN RD

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

0.2MI N OF BRODIE MTN. RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1961 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 6,983

HWY OLD COKE KLN

Fair

Over: WATER SAWMILL RIVER

NE OF HEMENWAY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1910 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 650

I 93

Fair

Over: ST 60 WB/SALEM ST

1.1 KM S OF ROSVELT CIR., Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 266,500

HWY CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.6 MI NE OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1924 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 10,875

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY ALGERIE RD

AT MM 22.5 B5, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 27,448

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY ALGERIE RD

AT MM 22.5 B5, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 27,448

Showing 2,651-2,700 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.