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 S BOS BPS RD

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

AT NB FRONTAGE RD., Suffolk, MA

Built 1998 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 16,600

HWY HENDERSON RD

Fair

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF ROUTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 657

HWY CLM ST TO ML

Fair

Over: RR HRR

0.4 MI N OF US20 76.34, Berkshire, MA

Built 1943 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 129

HWY BROOK RD

Fair

Over: WATER PINE TREE BROOK

.24 KM W OF CENTRAL AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 19,655

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: HWY LOCKHOUSE RD

MM 40.2 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 17,845

I 90 WB

Fair

Over: HWY LOCKHOUSE RD

MM 40.2 ON I-90 WB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 18,233

HWY SUMNER ST

Fair

Over: OTHER PEDESTRIAN WLKWY

E. OF BREMEN/SUMNER INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 1908 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 7,241

HWY DEPOT ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

JUST W OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1925 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 3,319

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: HWY PARKING LOT

0.40 KM S SCHOOL & BRDWAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1995 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 17,845

HWY RAMP 1A-D

Fair

Over: HWY ARRIVAL ROADWAY

1.2 K SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 10,600

HWY HOLLAND RD

Fair

Over: WATER WALES BROOK

1600 S OF RT 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 3,491

HWY ADAMS ST

Fair

Over: TR RED HIGH SPEED LN

S OF LOWER MILLS, Norfolk, MA

Built 1927 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 26,600

HWY CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.48 KM S. CHARLES RV S26, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 7,900

HWY NEW BSTN RD

Fair

Over: I 90

AT I-90 MM 77.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 3,265

I 90 EB

Fair

Over: RR PVRR

MM 43.0 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 24,666

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: ST 38 WB/MAIN ST

RT 128 AT RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 77,200

HWY BLOOD RD

Fair

Over: WATER KEENAN BROOK

.3 MI N OF SAUNDERDALE RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 250

US202 PURPLE HEART

Fair

Over: HWY BARDWELL ST

.4 M N CONN RIVER, Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 15,300

HWY OLD SHEPARD

Fair

Over: WATER MASSAPOAG BROOK

3.5 KM S OF RT 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 50.6 t ADT: 300

HWY SMITHVLLE RD

Fair

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

0.5 M W OF ST-31, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 50.6 t ADT: 1,000

HWY DEPOT RD

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

1.M S. JCT. ST 68, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 50.6 t ADT: 3,500

ST181 MILL VLLY RD

Fair

Over: WATER JABISH BROOK

1.8 MI SE OF RTE 202, Hampshire, MA

Built 1955 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 9,828

HWY MEDWAY ST

Fair

Over: TR RED HSL

0.1 MI S OF ADAMS ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1928 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 800

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: HWY MALDEN ST

AT WORC. CITY LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1975 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 15,881

I 93 NB OFF RMP

Fair

Over: OTHER TRI COMMUNITY GREE

0.1 MI S MONTVALE AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 9,700

I 93 RAMP E-SS

Fair

Over: I 93 RAMP C

0.25 MI E OF I-93, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 517

HWY SUMNER RD

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1927 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 3,000

ST 30 COMM AVE

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.64 KM W. INT 16 S14, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 10,862

HWY CHANDLER RD

Fair

Over: I 495 SB

CHANDLER RD AT I-495, Essex, MA

Built 1962 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 8,800

HWY ORCHARD RD

Fair

Over: US 3

1.5 MI SE CONCORD RIVER, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 1,800

ST 3 A/HNCK OFFRP

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.2 MI E OF I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 21,200

ST 3 A/HANCK ONRP

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.2 MI E OF I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1970 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 16,500

I 93 RAMP K

Fair

Over: I 90 & I 93 RAMP KK

I-90/I-93 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2006 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 9,310

HWY WALLUM LK RD

Fair

Over: RR PCRR (ABANDONED)

.9 MI S OF SW MAIN ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1864 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 400

ST 79 S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSONET RIVER

.9 MI NE OF RTE 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1886 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 11,300

HWY MORAN RD

Fair

Over: WATER MOOSE BROOK

W OF RT32 BY BARRE RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 100

ST 28 W GROVE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

TAUNTON TRACKS MP#34.894, Plymouth, MA

Built 1850 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 17,000

HWY LOWELL ST

Fair

Over: OTHER MINUTMN BP & BROOK

200 FT SO PARK AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 4,914

HWY SCANTIC RD

Fair

Over: WATER TEMPLE BROOK

0.2M N OF ROCKADUNDEE RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 200

HWY GREENWOOD AV

Fair

Over: I 90

I-90 MM 93.57, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 4,900

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER HAWES BROOK

.5 MI NE OF WALPOLE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1967 Load: 51.1 t ADT: 16,551

I 95 SB

Fair

Over: HWY LOWELL ST

.2 MI E US1, Essex, MA

Built 1974 Load: 51.1 t ADT: 60,000

HWY ROGERS ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

.5 MI. W. OF RTE. 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1884 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 15,600

HWY JUG END RD

Fair

Over: WATER FENTON BROOK

1.5M W OF 41&S OF MT W RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 51.3 t ADT: 647

ST 31 NB RLLSTN ST

Fair

Over: HWY BROAD ST

.2 MI. SOUTH OF MAIN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 51.3 t ADT: 5,686

HWY BROOKSIDE RD

Fair

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

1 MI W OF CHELMS LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1860 Load: 51.3 t ADT: 3,600

HWY CHERRY ST

Fair

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

.35 MI WEST OF WALNUT ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 2002 Load: 51.4 t ADT: 1,034

HWY WEST ST

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 MI NW OF I 95, Bristol, MA

Built 1976 Load: 51.4 t ADT: 5,900

US 1 RAMP CT

Fair

Over: COMB I93 SB &RMPS& MBTA

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 26,663

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: WATER PAWTUCKET CANAL

0.40 KM S SCHOOL & BRDWAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1995 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 17,457

Showing 2,951-3,000 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.