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 93 RAMPS SN NS

Fair

Over: RR BMRR BSG SPUR

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 37,301

ST 28 WAQUOIT HWY

Fair

Over: WATER CHILDS RIVER

1.25 M W OF MASHPEE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1928 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 11,928

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: RR NECRR

300 E OF INT GREEN ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1900 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 517

I 90 WB RAMP ON

Fair

Over: RR CSX/MBTA

AT INT 17 S29, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 19,009

HWY BARK HAUL RD

Fair

Over: I 91

MM 0.8 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 2002 Load: 53.3 t ADT: 150

HWY HANCOCK ST

Fair

Over: COMB SGMRE ST&MBTA&REDS

1.3KM SE OF JET I93&NEPON, Norfolk, MA

Built 1969 Load: 53.3 t ADT: 19,655

ST 67 /ST19/BOSTON

Fair

Over: WATER NAULTAUG BROOK

0.85 MI S OF ST 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 53.3 t ADT: 3,620

HWY W RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH BROOK

.2 MI. N. OF I 290, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 53.4 t ADT: 9,211

I 90

Fair

Over: HWY GRANGER ST

MM 46.6 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 8,896

HWY WINTHROP ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHICKEN BROOK

.3 MI N OF RTE 109, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 6,000

HWY CENTRE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

DOVER-NEEDHAM TOWN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1847 Load: 53.6 t ADT: 11,896

ST 1 A/HIGH RD

Fair

Over: WATER PARKER RIVER

0.25 MI S OF NEWMAN RD, Essex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 53.6 t ADT: 5,172

I 93 HOV RAMP EB

Fair

Over: I 93 RAMP XX

0.8 KM S. OF I-90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 53.7 t ADT: 6,100

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: HWY EMERSON RD

MM 2.1 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1959 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 45,776

HWY CENTRE ST

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

BETWEEN NORWOOD & PAUL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 13,600

HWY THACHER ST

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

.1 MI N OF RTE 152, Bristol, MA

Built 1994 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 7,241

HWY GREEN ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.1 MI N LYNN TRAIN STATIO, Essex, MA

Built 1913 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 2,350

HWY BEARTOWN MTN

Fair

Over: WATER WEST BROOK

500 SOUTH OF LEE T.L., Berkshire, MA

Built 1925 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 300

HWY GOLD NUGGET

Fair

Over: WATER TURKEY HILL BROOK

.1 MI. WEST OF PAXTON RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 100

HWY RANGEWAY RD

Fair

Over: US 3

1.25 MI NE RTE 4, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 4,500

I 93 RAMP KK

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.8 KM N OF I90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 2,416

HWY SAUNDERSDALE

Fair

Over: WATER KEENAN BROOK

100 FT SE OF BLOOD RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 3,150

HWY BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER WESTERN CANAL

AT LEWIS & SUFFOLK STS., Middlesex, MA

Built 1833 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 6,600

HWY NOTCH RD

Fair

Over: WATER NOTCH BROOK

.3 MI SOUTH OF RTE 2, Berkshire, MA

Built 1960 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 1,450

US 44 CAPE HWY

Fair

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

AT TAUNTON TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1932 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 19,544

US 20 N BEACON ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.1 MI N OF I 90, Suffolk, MA

Built 1915 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 26,400

ST 3 A/LINCOLN ST

Fair

Over: WATER BACK RIVER

AT HINGHAM WEYMOUTH TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1943 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 36,300

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASNEBUMSKIT RIVER

0.7 MI. S. RT. 31, Worcester, MA

Built 1989 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 100

ST129 BILLERICA RD

Fair

Over: US 3

RT 129 AT RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 25,000

HWY FOWLER ST

Fair

Over: WATER WARREN BROOK

0.5M N OF RT140VIA MECNIC, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 300

HWY WOBURN ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

0.33MI S OF CONCORD ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1980 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 6,000

HWY ADAMS ST

Fair

Over: WATER SHUMATUSCACANT RIV

.25 MI. NE. OF RTE. 18, Plymouth, MA

Built 1956 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 4,000

US 3 SB

Fair

Over: HWY RICHARDSON RD

0.75 MI NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 50,638

ST 16 MYST VAL PKY

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

.4 MI W OF WINTHROP ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 33,900

HWY TYLER RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

270 E OF WKBG VLY RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1939 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 50

HWY RUSSEL STAGE

Fair

Over: WATER FREELAND BROOK

AT INT. W/ NYE BROOK ROAD, Hampden, MA

Built 1988 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 388

HWY ADAMS&BLV ST

Fair

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

3.2 KM S OF JCT SR 3A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 12,414

I 90 WB RAMP OFF

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

AT INT 16 S15, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 8,500

I 84 EB EXT RAMP

Fair

Over: WATER HOBBS BROOK

EXIT 9 EB ON RAMP, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 24,152

HWY GRANITEVILLE

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

50 FT S OF BROADWAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1998 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 4,300

I 395 RAMP A

Fair

Over: WATER WELLINGTON BROOK

ON RAMP SOUTH EXIT 5, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 1,322

HWY MOUNTAIN AVE

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA/BMRR & ORANGE

BTWN SUMMER & WASHINGTON, Middlesex, MA

Built 1890 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 3,000

HWY JOS DRIEBEEK

Fair

Over: WATER GREEN HARBOR RIVER

1.06 KM JCT RTE 139, Plymouth, MA

Built 1985 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 1,285

ST 12 SPRING ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

ST 12 SPRING ST/MILLERS R, Worcester, MA

Built 1927 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 16,680

ST 3 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

.8 MI N OF PLYMOUTH TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1948 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 33,491

HWY AUBURN ST

Fair

Over: WATER DUNN BROOK

.1 MILE SOUTH OF I-290, Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 13,406

HWY AMES ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.8 KM SOUTHEAST OF RT. 9, Norfolk, MA

Built 2012 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 13,400

I 93 RAMPS SN NS

Fair

Over: RR BMRR BSG SPUR

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 37,301

HWY FAYETTE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.9 MI N LYNN TRAIN STATIO, Essex, MA

Built 1913 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 2,200

HWY HOSPITAL RD

Fair

Over: WATER CHICOPEE BROOK

.15 MI W OF RTE 32, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 905

Showing 3,051-3,100 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.