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

I 391 & OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

MM 4.0 ON I-391, Hampden, MA

Built 1979 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 29,540

ST 28 NB

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

1 M S OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1960 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 13,371

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY INDIAN ROCK ROAD

I-90 MILE MARKER 119.8, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 67,521

HWY CROWLEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER STILLWATER RIVER

.5 MI E OF ST 140, Worcester, MA

Built 1910 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 71

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: ST 12 LEOMINSTER RD

I 190NB/ST 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 15,016

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: ST 12 LEOMINSTER RD

I 190SB/ST 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 19,326

HWY BAY ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 MI E OF NORTON T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1980 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 11,267

HWY CEDAR ST

Fair

Over: ST 9 WORCESTER ST

1.1 KM WLY RT 128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 22,887

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: HWY TRAVELER ST & PARK

UNIT 2, Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 148,110

ST 18 BROAD ST

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

4.5 M S OF WHITMAN TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1926 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 14,857

US 20 CAPE ST

Fair

Over: WATER GREENWATER BROOK

1.7 MI E OF MAPLE ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 4,745

ST 28 BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.6 MI S ST213, Essex, MA

Built 1912 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 22,000

ST 24 NB CURVE G

Fair

Over: ST 24 SB CURVE S

.16 KM S OF I 93, Norfolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 58,448

HWY RANNAPO RD

Fair

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

0.8 MI W. OF ASHLEY FALLS, Berkshire, MA

Built 1971 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 259

ST 2 A/GREAT RD

Fair

Over: WATER MULPUS BROOK

1.1 MI W. AYER TOWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1941 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 6,891

I 90 RMP D INT 14

Fair

Over: OTHER MDC PIPE@NRMBGA RD

SOUTH OF NORUMBEGA RD., Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 20,860

ST 2

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

.2 MI S. OF ST 13, Worcester, MA

Built 1951 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 62,191

HWY HOWARD ST

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

0.25 MI SW CONNCTR & RT3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 1,700

HWY STEVENS ST

Fair

Over: ST140

.5 MI S OF ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 8,200

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: RR MACRR

CSX MP QBF 1.77, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 51,622

ST 32 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONANT BROOK

NEAR JCT. MAPLE STREET, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 9,596

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: COMB MILLERS RIVER/ OTH

I93/US 1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 46.8 t ADT: 80,170

HWY BOSTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER SAUGUS RIVER

AT SAUGUS LINE, Essex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 46.8 t ADT: 10,300

HWY RICHMOND ST

Fair

Over: ST 1 A/NB

AT WEST END CAL TNL, Suffolk, MA

Built 1961 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 775

HWY PEARL ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

.6 KM E OF WASHINGTON ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1963 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 12,500

HWY EAST ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE RIVER

AT WILBRAHAM LINE, Hampden, MA

Built 1937 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 5,172

I 90 EX 94 INT 10

Fair

Over: I 90

.3 MI W. ROUTE 146, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 12,748

HWY POWER ST

Fair

Over: WATER BARROWSVILLE POND

.2 MI N OF S WORCESTER ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1997 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 928

HWY W MOUNTN ST

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

300 FT S. OF MALDEN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1985 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 13,836

ST 2 A/MASS AVE

Fair

Over: COMB STRW DR & CHAS RIV

.8 MI E OF BU BRIDGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1891 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 38,638

ST138 COUNTY ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY COVE BROOK

.1 MI.S OF MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1963 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 6,983

HWY TAYLOR BK RD

Fair

Over: WATER DAVENPORT BROOK

0.5M W OF COLRAIN TL, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 120

HWY HAMPSHIRE RD

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.1 MILE EAST I 93, Essex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 4,900

HWY MILLER ST

Fair

Over: I 495

3 M W OF LAKEVILLE TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1997 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 4,400

ST 3 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

.5 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1908 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 8,357

ST 1 A/RP E-1AS

Fair

Over: ST 1 A/& RP E-1ANB

SEGMENT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 47.1 t

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: HWY WINN ST

0.75 MI NE RT 95 & RT 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 799,950

ST146 NB

Fair

Over: ST 98 ALDRICH ST

MM2.6 0.1 MI W OF ST146A, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 16,998

ST146 SB

Fair

Over: ST 98 ALDRICH ST

MM2.6 0.1 MI W OF ST146A, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 15,786

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY MORGAN RD

MM 44.1 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 31,191

ST 9 GOSHEN RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

.1MI W OF JCT W/STRTE 143, Hampshire, MA

Built 2002 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 5,468

HWY SARATOGA ST

Fair

Over: TR BLUE LINE

OVER BLUE LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1913 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 34,400

I 93 RAMP K

Fair

Over: HWY W FOURTH ST

0.5 M S. OF I90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 11,717

ST 99 SB/BROADWAY

Fair

Over: ST 16 REV BCH PKWY

.1 MI N OF BARTLETT ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 31,800

HWY SHELDON ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

.1MI. N. OF ST-31RIVER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 650

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER MARGARET BROOK

0.18 MI W OF RT 32, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,700

ST 28 SB/N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: I 495 RAMP D

1.8 MI N ANDOVER CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 13,707

ST 3 A/PRNCETN ST

Fair

Over: COMB BMRR & STONY BROOK

1.25 MI N DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 21,207

ST 4 NORTH RD

Fair

Over: I 495

RT 4 AT RT 495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 33,500

I 190 SB

Fair

Over: HWY RIVER ST

3.5 MI.NTH.OF WORC.CTY.LN, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 17,827

Showing 2,751-2,800 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.