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 95 NB/ST128 NB

Fair

Over: HWY WALNUT ST

2.3 KM S US1, Essex, MA

Built 1940 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 61,300

ST 10 /ST63/MAIN

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

AT JCT MILL ST., Franklin, MA

Built 1941 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 6,983

US 1 SB/NEWBURY

Fair

Over: HWY LOWELL ST

.1 MI N OF RR TRACKS, Essex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 19,815

I 93 RAMP K

Fair

Over: COMB I90&I93RMP CC&AMTK

UNIT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 62.1 t ADT: 1,200

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MATFIELD RIVER

.15 M NE OF HIGH ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1884 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 2,716

HWY FISHER RD

Fair

Over: WATER FALLULAH BROOK

0.1 MI. E. OF RT. 31, Worcester, MA

Built 1909 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 440

HWY BALMORAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

. 1 MILE EAST ST 28, Essex, MA

Built 1924 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 2,450

HWY BUTTON BALL

Fair

Over: WATER HUBBARD BROOK

450 S. OF INT. W/ RTE 23, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 259

ST 28 S BROADWAY

Fair

Over: WATER SOUTH CANAL

.16 KM S MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1939 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 17,786

HWY W GRNWICH RD

Fair

Over: WATER NEWTON BROOK

1. MI N OF WARE TOWN LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 645

ST 1 A NB

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

1.4 KM NE OF CALLAHAN, Suffolk, MA

Built 1951 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 27,823

ST116 N BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER SECOND LEVEL CANAL

.1 M S CONN RIVER, Hampden, MA

Built 1990 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 6,724

HWY ORCHARD ST

Fair

Over: WATER BOGASTOW BROOK

1 MI.WST.OF ST.115, Norfolk, MA

Built 2006 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 2,142

HWY WARREN AVE

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

.3 MI S OF ST123, Plymouth, MA

Built 1913 Load: 62.8 t ADT: 12,672

US 6 STATE RD

Fair

Over: WATER WESTPORT RIV SPL

.5 MI. WEST OF REED RD, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 10,390

ST 8 A/JCKSNVL ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BRANCH BROOK

200 W. OF SUMNER STETSON, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 63.1 t ADT: 339

HWY UNION ST WB

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

.32 KM.SW OF MIDDLE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 63.3 t ADT: 14,700

HWY NEW WSTMNSTR

Fair

Over: WATER JOSLIN BROOK

3 MI W OF WESMSTR T/L, Worcester, MA

Built 2004 Load: 63.3 t ADT: 1,622

ST116

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1.5 M S SUND-AMHERST T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 10,921

HWY PLAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

0.25 MI E RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 63.6 t ADT: 12,850

HWY HERRICK RD

Fair

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 63.6 t ADT: 4,267

HWY WIRE VILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER TURKEY HILL BROOK

0.2M E OF HASTINGS RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 63.6 t ADT: 465

HWY PROSPECT ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.6 MI. S. MAIN ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 1888 Load: 63.6 t ADT: 35,200

HWY FREEDOM ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.6 MI W OF ST-140, Worcester, MA

Built 1948 Load: 63.7 t ADT: 3,304

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: RR BMRR/MBTA

1.2 MI ELY RT 129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 63.7 t ADT: 127,837

HWY BROOKLINE AV

Fair

Over: COMB I 90 & MBTA/CSX

AT FENWAY PARK S51, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 63.8 t ADT: 12,931

HWY CEDAR ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

S OF ROXBURY XING STATION, Suffolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 63.8 t ADT: 9,257

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER AUBURN POND

I-90 OVER CENTRAL ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 64.2 t ADT: 3,494

HWY RYAN RD

Fair

Over: WATER PARSONS BROOK

AT PARSONS BROOK, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 64.3 t ADT: 4,138

HWY MIDDLE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

1.4 KM FROM UNION ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 11,600

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER TUFTS BROOK

MM 68.2 ON I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 64.7 t ADT: 47,799

HWY MEADOW ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

AT JCT. ST. 116, Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 10,474

HWY HAMMOND HILL

Fair

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

.8 MI. N. OF RTE-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 1,949

ST140 W CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: COMB MBTA&MINE BRK TRB

.2 MILES WEST OF I - 495, Norfolk, MA

Built 2006 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 16,900

ST189 GRANBY RD

Fair

Over: WATER SEYMOUR BROOK

0.2MI S OF JCT W/ROUTE 57, Hampden, MA

Built 1904 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 2,068

HWY KEARNEY SQ

Fair

Over: WATER EASTERN CANAL

MERRIMACK & E.MERRIMACK, Middlesex, MA

Built 1835 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 15,000

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER BAKER BROOK

AT SAWYER ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 64.9 t ADT: 400

HWY KINGMAN DR

Fair

Over: WATER SLACK BROOK

60M N. OF EXCH ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1955 Load: 65.0 t ADT: 550

HWY MEADOW ST

Fair

Over: WATER SWAMP BROOK

0.3 MI EAST OF HADLEY TL, Hampshire, MA

Built 2007 Load: 65.1 t ADT: 6,071

HWY S BOS BPS RD

Fair

Over: I 93

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 1998 Load: 65.4 t ADT: 12,413

ST 79 ELM ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSONET RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF ASSONET CTR, Bristol, MA

Built 1822 Load: 65.6 t ADT: 8,895

ST 8 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER YOKUM POND BROOK

@ CARTER RD. INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 2006 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 2,180

HWY CRAFTS RD

Fair

Over: ST128

.48 KM S ANNISQUAM RIV, Essex, MA

Built 1948 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 2,300

HWY FOLEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER SCHENOB BROOK

770 S OF INT W/KELSEY RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 129

ST146

Fair

Over: WATER SINGLETARY BROOK

.1 MI S OF W MAIN ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1936 Load: 66.0 t ADT: 37,631

HWY STATE HSP RD

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG STREAM

500 EAST OF UPPER PALMER, Hampden, MA

Built 1940 Load: 66.0 t ADT: 388

HWY RECREATN RD

Fair

Over: ST128 SERVICE RD

0.8 KM SO MASS PIKE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 66.3 t ADT: 1,034

HWY CREEPER HILL

Fair

Over: WATER FLINT POND

.5 MI W OF RTE 140, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 66.4 t ADT: 1,526

HWY FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.5 M S OF I90 EB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 67.0 t ADT: 16,100

HWY S BOS BPS RD

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

AT ACCESS RD., Suffolk, MA

Built 1998 Load: 67.1 t ADT: 13,200

Showing 3,201-3,250 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.