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

US 1 NE XWAY

Fair

Over: RR MBTA & SILVER LINE

1 M NE OF TOBIN BR., Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 83,976

US 1 CUTLER HWY

Fair

Over: COMB TRAIL & LINDEN CRK

.64 KM N OF ST-60, Suffolk, MA

Built 1937 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 114,000

HWY MAIN&CURTIS

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

200 FT W OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 11,455

ST136 J REYNOLDS

Fair

Over: I 195

.4 MI.NE OF US 6, Bristol, MA

Built 2007 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 10,500

ST 28 S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST125 ANDOVER BYPASS

3.8 MI S ANDOVER CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 16,900

HWY ASPINWALL AV

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1915 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 6,210

ST 68 TIMPANY BLVD

Fair

Over: WATER BAKER BROOK

.3 MI.STH OF ST.2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1968 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 16,300

ST 28 BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.9 MI S ST213, Essex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 11,300

I 90 & WB RAMPS

Fair

Over: WATER HOBBS BROOK

1-90 MM 78.25, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 35,946

HWY MAPLE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.2MI. S.E. OF ST-126, Norfolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 9,676

HWY RAMP T-A/D

Fair

Over: HWY RELIEF

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 14,400

US 20 STURBRDGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

.5 MI W OF OXFORD T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 24,099

HWY MIDDLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

.5 MI N OF INT W/ HUNT RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 129

ST122 PROVDENCE RD

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

.5 MI. N OF UXBRIDGE TL., Worcester, MA

Built 1941 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 8,063

ST146 NB

Fair

Over: HWY MAIN ST

100 FT N. OF SUTTON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1950 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 18,954

ST123 COUNTY ST

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

IN ATTL. CENTER, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 12,369

HWY LAMB ST

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

1.8MI E OF RT.95, Bristol, MA

Built 1905 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 4,571

I 93 RAMP TS

Fair

Over: US 1 RAMP LC

NORTH OF CHARLES RIVER, Middlesex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 15,468

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: HWY EMERSON RD

MM 2.1 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1959 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 45,776

HWY GENOVEVO DR

Fair

Over: WATER MINECHOAG BROOK

.3M EAST OF MILLER STREET, Hampden, MA

Built 1991 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 100

ST140

Fair

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

1.5 MI NW OF I 495, Bristol, MA

Built 1980 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 19,746

HWY ALDRICH ST

Fair

Over: WATER JABISH BROOK

0.5MI W OF RT181, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 300

ST 28 CHAS R DM RD

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.1 MI NW OF NASHUA ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1910 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 28,500

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: COMB I90 & AMTRAK

UNIT 4, Suffolk, MA

Built 2000 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 116,881

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY SCOTLAND RD

2.1 MI N PARKER RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1952 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 63,600

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

AT INT 17 S31, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 33,750

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: US 3

RT 495 AT RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 61,400

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: US 3

RT 495 AT RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 118,965

HWY CALKINS RD

Fair

Over: I 90

MM 61.5 ON I90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 400

HWY WATER ST

Fair

Over: COMB BRGN PKY&MBTA&REDS

1.5 MI NE. JCT. SR3 & I93, Norfolk, MA

Built 1936 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 28,100

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

AT WESTON LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 16,293

HWY LOVERS LN

Fair

Over: WATER DEPOT BROOK

AT INT. WITH FROST ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 129

I 93 RAMP NS

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 19,352

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER BROAD COVE

DIGHTON/SOMERSET LINE, Bristol, MA

Built 1938 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,286

I 91 SB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: US 5 /ST10/N KING ST

EXIT 26 SOUTHBOUND I-91, Hampshire, MA

Built 1963 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 3,792

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: RR PVRR

MM 39.9 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 21,613

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: RR PVRR

MM 39.9 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 14,672

I 93 NB RAMP C-L

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

RAMP N. OF GILMORE BRIDGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 17,800

I 93 NB RAMP CL

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

RAMP N. OF GILMORE BRIDGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 17,800

ST 32 LOWER RD

Fair

Over: WATER MOOSE BROOK

250 FT SO. OF BARRE ROAD, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 5,797

HWY LITTLETON RD

Fair

Over: ST 2

1.5 MI E OF RT 110, Worcester, MA

Built 1950 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 1,083

I 95 NB

Fair

Over: HWY SCOTLAND RD

2.1 MI N PARKER RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1976 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 63,600

ST 3 A/WARREN AVE

Fair

Over: WATER EEL RIVER

3 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 7,286

ST 1 A/VFW PKWY

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.32 KM N JCT SR1A&145, Suffolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 47,457

HWY GREENVILLE R

Fair

Over: WATER MASON BROOK

.2 MI N OF MASON RD SPLIT, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 4,350

HWY ONSET AVE

Fair

Over: WATER EAST RIVER

0.5 MI W OF RTE 6 & 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1914 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 11,767

HWY TOWN FARM RD

Fair

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

.4 MI. N. OF RT. 225, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 2,825

ST116 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

.4 MI SE OF JCT W/ROUTE8A, Berkshire, MA

Built 1961 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 3,750

HWY SEAPORT BLVD

Fair

Over: WATER FORT POINT CHANNEL

0.1MI EAST ATLANTIC AVE., Suffolk, MA

Built 1996 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 22,000

I 93 RAMPS SN NS

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

I93 US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 19,805

Showing 2,901-2,950 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.