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 NB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: OTHER PEDESTRIAN

3.2 KM N OF JCT I93&US1, Middlesex, MA

Built 1973 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 13,200

HWY QNCY SHOR DR

Fair

Over: WATER BLACK CREEK

.6 MI N OF RTE 3A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1974 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 43,600

HWY LOWELL CONN

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

0.75 MI S PLAIN ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 88,000

HWY PORTER ST

Fair

Over: WATER BATCHELOR BROOK

433 N OF ALDRICH ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 388

HWY S MONSON RD

Fair

Over: WATER TEMPLE BROOK

1 MI E OF SCANTIC RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 2,068

ST 8 A/WINDSOR RD

Fair

Over: WATER DROWNED LAND BROOK

.1 MI S OF RTE 116, Berkshire, MA

Built 1959 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 1,550

HWY VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER MOOSE BROOK

0.4 M E OF RT10 NR WSTFLD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 260

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: COMB AUSTIN ST &ORNG LN

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 55,751

US 1 NB/NEWBURY

Fair

Over: HWY LOWELL ST

.1 MI N RR TRACKS, Essex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 23,230

I 95 SB/US1/ST128

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

I 95AT SOUTH END OF ST128, Norfolk, MA

Built 2008 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 80,679

HWY LANGLEY RD

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 3,000

HWY HARTFORD AVE

Fair

Over: WATER WEST RIVER

500 FT E OF GLEN AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 490

US 1 RAMP CT

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA & MILLERS RIV

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 41,800

HWY MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

0.1MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1890 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 8,336

ST 16 MYST VAL PKY

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

.2 MI E OF WINTHROP ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 13,100

ST 32 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER MARGARET BROOK

125 S OF INT MILL ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 14,741

ST 24 NB (LINE B)

Fair

Over: I 195 WB

AT WATTUPPA POND, Bristol, MA

Built 1961 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 16,426

HWY COUNTY RD

Fair

Over: WATER FALL BROOK

AT JCT WASHBURN RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1941 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 6,900

HWY COLUMBIA RD

Fair

Over: COMB OLD COLNY&MBTA&RED

1.6 KM E OF ST RTE 3, Suffolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 82,500

HWY STAFFORD RD

Fair

Over: WATER SCANTIC RIVER

0.2 M NW OF MONSON TL, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 259

HWY CONCORD RD

Fair

Over: US 3

1.6 KM N RTE 4, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 23,405

HWY TREBLE COVE

Fair

Over: US 3

1.2 MI. N. OF CONCORD RD., Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 12,400

ST 12 SPRING ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

1.5 MI E OF ST 140, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 6,724

HWY LWLL CONN SB

Fair

Over: US 3

0.6 MI S OF I 495, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 9,800

HWY LIB IND PKWY

Fair

Over: WATER SWAMP RIVER

OFF MIDDLE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1992 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 14,500

I 93 RAMP X

Fair

Over: HWY W FOURTH ST

I93/I90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 2,470

HWY CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: OTHER CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL

.32 KM NELY CONANT RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1911 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 7,758

HWY CAMBRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: RR PWRR

JUST W. OF SOUTHBRIDGE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1935 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 11,895

HWY PRENTICE PL

Fair

Over: WATER YOKUM BROOK

E OF RT8 NEAR WSH BCK SCH, Berkshire, MA

Built 1960 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 129

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

S. OF VFW HIGHWAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1917 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 20,800

ST 67 /ST19/WARREN

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

0.1 MI S OF ST 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 5,197

US 3 SB

Fair

Over: HWY FARM RD

0.25 MI S TREBLECOVE RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 59,224

US 3 NB

Fair

Over: HWY FARM RD

0.25 MI S TREBLECOVE RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 53,663

HWY GOSS HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER M BR WESTFIELD RIV

@ LITTLEVILLE RD INTER., Hampshire, MA

Built 1900 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 1,034

HWY GREENDALE AV

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

NEEDHAM LINE MP 10.39, Norfolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 8,405

HWY SYCAMORE ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.3 KM W OF JCT SR28&38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1902 Load: 61.1 t ADT: 1,160

US 3 NB

Fair

Over: ST 40 GROTON RD

RTE 3 AT RTE 40, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 61.2 t ADT: 51,585

ST128

Fair

Over: ST 62 ELLIOT ST

JCT ST-62 & ST-128, Essex, MA

Built 1940 Load: 61.2 t ADT: 72,449

ST150 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

IN CENTER OF TOWN, Essex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 61.3 t ADT: 12,700

HWY WEST ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.8 MILES NORTH OF ST - 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1994 Load: 61.3 t ADT: 5,903

ST105 THOMPSON ST

Fair

Over: WATER WINNETUXET RIVER

AT JCT OF PRATT ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1992 Load: 61.3 t ADT: 6,800

ST105 THOMPSON ST

Fair

Over: WATER BARTLETT BROOK

.4 MI N OF MIDDLEBORO LN, Plymouth, MA

Built 1992 Load: 61.3 t ADT: 9,181

I 91 NB

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

AT EXIT #22 I-91, Hampshire, MA

Built 1963 Load: 61.5 t ADT: 17,181

I 91 SB

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1.3 M S WHTLY-HTFLD T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1963 Load: 61.5 t ADT: 18,119

HWY BERK SCHOOL

Fair

Over: WATER WILLARD BROOK

AT INT. WITH GIBERSON RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 3,788

HWY NTHRLNDS RD

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY RIVER

BROOKLINE LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1892 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 2,300

HWY FAY RD

Fair

Over: WATER N BR SWIFT RIVER

0.7 M W OF US 202 NR TL, Franklin, MA

Built 1987 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 388

ST 19 BRIMFIELD RD

Fair

Over: WATER TUFTS BROOK

.15 MI SOUTH OF I 90, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 880

HWY FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

AT SO BOSTON BYPASS RD., Suffolk, MA

Built 1998 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 58,966

US202 SB

Fair

Over: RR GWRR

.1 M S BR # H-21-35, Hampden, MA

Built 2010 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 11,200

Showing 3,151-3,200 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.