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 PROSPECT ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.5 MI N OF HARVARD BR., Middlesex, MA

Built 1933 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 14,900

ST 32 WEST ST

Fair

Over: WATER FLAT BROOK

.1 M W JCT TOWNE ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 1971 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 14,134

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: RR PVRR

MM 43.0 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 31,191

HWY NORTHWEST RD

Fair

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

2MI S US20 NEAR RUSSEL, Hampden, MA

Built 1999 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 400

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY W BOYLSTON DR

1000 FT W. OF NEPONSET ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 22,366

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: HWY W BOYLSTON DR

800 FT W.OF NEPONSET ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1977 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 22,557

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY LITTLE ALUM PD RD

MM 73.7 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 59,870

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY LITTLE ALUM PD RD

MM 73.7 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 59,870

HWY COTTAGE ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

0.1 MI S RT 9 (CSX 63.72), Worcester, MA

Built 1993 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 1,985

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: ST141 WB

MM 15.2 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 24,566

HWY W PARK ST

Fair

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

.1 MI W OF RT 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 1890 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 6,200

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: I 95 /ST128

1 KM S MASS PIKE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 14,400

HWY LAKE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.3 MI NE OF ST-129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1986 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 4,750

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

MM 44.2 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1962 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 11,779

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

MM 44.2 ON I-91 SB, Franklin, MA

Built 1962 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 18,071

HWY NEPONSET ST

Fair

Over: I 95 NB

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

Built 1963 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 30,584

HWY LINEAR PARK

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

AT LINEAR PARK, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 120

HWY ENDICOTT RD

Fair

Over: I 95

.25 MI N IPSWICH RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 7,700

US 3 SB

Fair

Over: I 95 /ST128 & CD

RT 3 AT RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 20,200

HWY MILLIKEN BLV

Fair

Over: COMB I 195 & RAMPS

AT I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1961 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 11,542

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.8 MI SW OF NORFOLK T.L., Norfolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 8,508

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER

300 FT N OF RIVER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 18,077

ST 2 A/ST110/AYER

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.75 MI NW OF I-495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1975 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 18,750

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1 MI. E. OF ST-27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1895 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 1,300

HWY EAST ST

Fair

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

.4 MI EAST OF JUNCTION RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1998 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 7,500

HWY FRNT RD SB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

BYPASS RD INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 1997 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 42,155

I 93

Fair

Over: HWY PELHAM ST

1.8 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 70,705

ST 2

Fair

Over: COMB ST2A &MLLRS R & RD

MM 65.3 ON ST 2, Franklin, MA

Built 1958 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 16,422

ST146 SB

Fair

Over: ST 16 DOUGLAS ST

2.1 MI.STH.OF LACKY DM.RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1983 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 16,693

HWY GLEN AVE

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

0.25 MI SW RT 3 & RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 45.9 t ADT: 800

HWY SANDY BRK T

Fair

Over: WATER SANDY BROOK

NR CONN BDR&NEW MARLBORO, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 45.9 t ADT: 480

HWY SARGENTS WAY

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

WAS MEADOW LN .4 M E ST28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1895 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 6,714

HWY BEACH RD

Fair

Over: WATER PRPNT MEDW OUT

.2MI S OF POTTER VILL RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 100

HWY STAGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

0.5 MI W OF PLAINFIELD RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1988 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 129

ST 28 SB

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

1 M S OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1960 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 13,603

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY RIVER ST

3.5 MI N OF WORCESTER CL, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 16,915

HWY CHESTNUT ST

Fair

Over: WATER GREENWATER BROOK

500 N OF ROUTE 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 1970 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 129

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: ST 62 PRINCETON RD

1 MILE WEST OF STATE 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1980 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 18,874

HWY UNION AVE

Fair

Over: WATER HOP BROOK

.4 MI. N. OF U.S.-20, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 9,379

HWY HEARD ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.1 MI S OF STAFFORD ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 7,904

HWY BELDINGVILLE

Fair

Over: WATER BEAR RIVER

0.6MI EAST OF MURRAY ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 129

ST 32 S BARRE RD

Fair

Over: WATER PRINCE RIVER

0.7 MI S OF ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 4,010

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY SHERIDAN ST

MM 49.5 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 35,590

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY SHERIDAN ST

MM 49.5 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 25,732

ST 53 WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

AT HANOVER PEMBROKE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1930 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 24,500

HWY MILLWAY RD

Fair

Over: WATER MARASPIN CREEK

0.1MI S OF COMMERCE RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1936 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 2,785

HWY STAFFORD ST

Fair

Over: I 90

MM83 0.4 MI W CTR DPT RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 4,143

ST 27 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

100 FT S OF SCHOOL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 9,069

I 93 RAMPS NS SN

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93 RAMPS N-S S-N, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 20,161

HWY S BOS BYPASS

Fair

Over: HWY WYDETT CIR ACC RD

0.6 M S OF JCT I 90 I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 12,300

Showing 2,701-2,750 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.