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

ST116

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1 M S AMHERST-HADLY T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 24,181

HWY N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER E TEMPLTN PND OTLT

0.1M N OF RTE 101, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 4,267

HWY BOSTON RD

Fair

Over: WATER COLD SPRING BROOK

.2 MI.EST.OF ST.146, Worcester, MA

Built 1970 Load: 74.6 t ADT: 7,617

HWY 7/8 CONNECT

Fair

Over: HWY PARTRIDGE RD

1.4 MI E OF US 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1989 Load: 74.8 t ADT: 10,474

HWY HOG HOLLW RD

Fair

Over: WATER CLESSON BROOK

@ RTE 112 INTERSECTION, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 75.3 t ADT: 129

HWY OAK ST

Fair

Over: US 6 EB/MID CAPE HWY

AT JCT SERVICE ROAD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1950 Load: 75.4 t ADT: 6,701

ST128

Fair

Over: HWY ACCESS RD

.3 MI S ST114, Essex, MA

Built 1958 Load: 75.5 t ADT: 18,100

HWY LANCASTER ST

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY PD OTLT

@ LANCASTER AND GROVE ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1953 Load: 75.6 t ADT: 3,730

HWY S MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

JUST S OF WEST MAIN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1920 Load: 75.7 t ADT: 859

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.1 IM SOUTH OF COMMON ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1875 Load: 75.8 t ADT: 2,327

ST 97 WINTER ST

Fair

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

.4 MI NW HAVERHILL CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1887 Load: 76.1 t ADT: 24,700

HWY SHAKER RD

Fair

Over: WATER GREAT BROOK

0.2 MI SOUTH OF LARO RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1955 Load: 76.2 t ADT: 9,181

US 3 NB

Fair

Over: HWY MAIN ST

2 MI. NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 76.5 t ADT: 51,000

HWY GROVE ST

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY PND OTLT

@ INT. LANC AND GROVE ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1953 Load: 76.6 t ADT: 14,614

HWY HIXBRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER E BR WESTPORT RIV

.7 MI E OF RTE 88, Bristol, MA

Built 2005 Load: 76.8 t ADT: 4,571

HWY GREEN ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

BTWN OAKDALE & WASHINGTON, Suffolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 3,300

ST 57 FDNG HILS RD

Fair

Over: WATER GREAT BROOK

1.6 M E JCT US 202, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 1,552

ST 2 A/LAUREL ST

Fair

Over: COMB BMRR & NASHUA RIV

AT JCT. OF ST-12 SOUTH, Worcester, MA

Built 1899 Load: 77.4 t ADT: 7,187

HWY DRAKE RD

Fair

Over: OTHER MINUTEMAN BIKE PTH

0.4 MI W OF PARK AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1995 Load: 77.6 t ADT: 400

HWY BELMONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY PLAIN R

.1 MI FROM E BRIDGEWATER, Plymouth, MA

Built 1875 Load: 77.7 t ADT: 9,100

ST 31 WESTMNSTR RD

Fair

Over: WATER PHILLIPS BROOK

.1 MI W OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 77.8 t ADT: 10,684

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.75 MI NW OF STAFFORD ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 77.8 t ADT: 5,393

HWY NE CUTOFF

Fair

Over: WATER POOR FARM BROOK

.3 MI N OF ST-70, Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 77.8 t ADT: 14,573

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

.7 MI W OF RTE 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1935 Load: 77.9 t ADT: 646

ST 3 SB

Fair

Over: HWY LEDGE RD

1.1 MI N OF RTE 40, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 77.9 t ADT: 40,287

ST 3 NB

Fair

Over: HWY LEDGE RD

1.1 M. NO. OF RT 40, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 77.9 t ADT: 41,426

ST 32 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: RR NECRR

0.1 M S JCT OF HIGH ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1920 Load: 78.1 t ADT: 13,500

HWY ESSEX ST

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

AT SHAWSHEEN RD INT., Essex, MA

Built 1875 Load: 78.2 t ADT: 18,000

HWY WALNUT ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.1 MI. S. OF ST-62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1922 Load: 78.2 t ADT: 2,500

HWY BLISS ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

200 SOUTH OF NONOTUCK ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 2005 Load: 78.4 t ADT: 3,103

ST140 TAUNTON AVE

Fair

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

1.6 MI NW OF TAUNTON T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1941 Load: 78.5 t ADT: 9,000

HWY NORTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

AT JCT GILBOA ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1869 Load: 79.0 t ADT: 7,998

HWY PRENTISS ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

1ST BR S OF RUGGLES ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 79.4 t ADT: 5,450

US202 RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

.2 M S. JCT ST. 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1932 Load: 79.4 t ADT: 6,071

HWY N HARVARD ST

Fair

Over: COMB CHARLES RV

.4 MI E OF WESTERN AVE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1912 Load: 79.8 t ADT: 24,100

HWY GREEN ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

.48 KM NE. OF RT. 1A, Essex, MA

Built 1894 Load: 80.6 t ADT: 1,800

HWY TYRINGHAM RD

Fair

Over: WATER LAKE GARFIELD OTLT

@ SYLVAN RD INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1972 Load: 80.6 t ADT: 517

I 495

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

I-495 SB 45.2 MM, Norfolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 80.8 t ADT: 93,346

HWY E BRMFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

0.2 M S OF US 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1958 Load: 80.9 t ADT: 1,422

ST128

Fair

Over: ST 1 A/DODGE ST

JCT ST 1A & ST 128, Essex, MA

Built 1946 Load: 81.0 t ADT: 72,500

HWY FOUNDRY VILL

Fair

Over: WATER E BR NORTH RIVER

1000 W OF MAIN RD(RT112), Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 81.0 t ADT: 905

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER DIVERSION CHANNEL

I-90 MM 93.1, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 81.0 t ADT: 89,963

HWY WEST HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH BROOK

.2 MI WEST OF RTE 8A, Franklin, MA

Built 1991 Load: 81.3 t ADT: 129

I 290

Fair

Over: HWY SEYMOUR ST

.2 MI WEST OF ST 122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 82.6 t ADT: 126,972

ST 9 WORCESTER ST

Fair

Over: HWY CLIFF RD

0.35 MI WLY RT 16, Norfolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 83.5 t ADT: 71,509

MA ROUTE 32

Fair

Over: SPILLWAY CHANNEL

4.8 KM NORTH OF ATHOL, Worcester, MA

Built 1948 Load: 83.6 t ADT: 1,000

HWY BELMONT AVE

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

AT JCT OF MILL ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1884 Load: 86.1 t ADT: 28,060

HWY EAST ST

Fair

Over: WATER STRONG WATER BROOK

0.85MI E OF LIVINGSTON ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 86.3 t ADT: 22,050

HWY HORTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER SEGREGANSET RIVER

.2 MI W OF WILLIAM ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1930 Load: 87.4 t ADT: 2,800

HWY CENTRE ST

Fair

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA & ORNG

BTWN TERRACE & COLUMBUS, Suffolk, MA

Built 1982 Load: 87.5 t ADT: 5,400

Showing 3,301-3,350 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.