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 PARSONAGE RD

Fair

Over: WATER WINNETUXET RIVER

.6 MI SW OF RTE 58, Plymouth, MA

Built 1973 Load: 87.5 t ADT: 1,357

ST 68 WEST ST

Fair

Over: WATER BAILEY BROOK

AT CORNER OF BRIDGE ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1939 Load: 88.8 t ADT: 2,938

HWY LAWRENCE ST

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

NEAR CONCORD RIVER, Middlesex, MA

Built 1910 Load: 89.0 t ADT: 9,200

ST122 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE CANAL

1.2MI. N. OF R.I. LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1913 Load: 89.7 t ADT: 3,511

HWY ACUSHNET RD

Fair

Over: WATER MATTAPOISETT RIVER

.5 KM NW OF RTE I 195, Plymouth, MA

Built 1942 Load: 89.9 t ADT: 2,200

ST 38 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER ABERJONA RIVER

.16 KM. E. OF RT. 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1915 Load: 92.0 t ADT: 10,732

ST 28 BLUE HILL AV

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.48 KM S OF WOODHAVEN ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1903 Load: 92.5 t ADT: 61,150

HWY CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUEQUECHAN RIVER

NEAR I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1903 Load: 93.0 t ADT: 5,560

HWY PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUINSIGAMOND RIVER

.2 MI. W. OF ST.RTE. 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1886 Load: 93.7 t ADT: 3,811

HWY ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: WATER LANCASTER POND

.2 MI W OF ST62, Worcester, MA

Built 1907 Load: 94.3 t ADT: 5

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER LONG POND INLET

JUST E OF MM 74.6, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 94.3 t ADT: 38,585

I 90

Fair

Over: ST116 CHICOPEE ST

MM 47.2 ON I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 95.0 t ADT: 8,896

ST128

Fair

Over: WATER CRANE RIVER

0.1 MI SOUTH OF ST 35, Essex, MA

Built 1940 Load: 95.0 t ADT: 73,800

ST 31 STATE RD

Fair

Over: WATER WILLARD BROOK

AT ST 119 INTERSECTION, Middlesex, MA

Built 1908 Load: 95.3 t ADT: 4,671

HWY LINCOLN ST

Fair

Over: RR PWRR/BMRR

.1 MI. W. OF I-290, Worcester, MA

Built 1953 Load: 95.7 t ADT: 27,038

ST113 PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: WATER BEAVER BK EAST STR

.8 KM N RIVERSIDE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1855 Load: 95.8 t ADT: 17,123

HWY GLOUCESTR AV

Fair

Over: RR MBTA

.1 MI S ST128, Essex, MA

Built 1861 Load: 95.9 t ADT: 2,200

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: WATER BACK RIVER

AT BACK RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 1860 Load: 98.7 t ADT: 9,200

I 93 RAMP AS

Fair

Over: HWY BROADWAY

0.25KM SOUTH OF I-901170, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 99.0 t ADT: 11,120

HWY BROOK ST

Fair

Over: WATER NASHOBA BROOK

.25 MI. W OF RTE. 2A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1938 Load: 99.2 t ADT: 7,200

ST 8 COMMRCIAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

200 EAST OF LEONARD ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1886 Load: 99.4 t ADT: 10,488

HWY RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

@ CORNER OF CARRIAGE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 800

ST 27 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

1 MI. S. OF SCHOOL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 9,069

HWY RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

.6 MI. E. OF ST. 27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1981 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,500

HWY S EAST ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORT RIVER

1.6 MI W PELHAM, Hampshire, MA

Built 1973 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,784

HWY STATE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1M E OF RT63 @FCTRY HLLOW, Hampshire, MA

Built 1968 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 259

HWY RIVER ST

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

TOWN LINE MED ARL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1938 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,302

ST 60 MEDFORD ST

Fair

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

TOWN LINE MED ARL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1936 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 24,310

I 295

Fair

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

.1 MI.W OF I-95, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 36,214

I 290

Fair

Over: WATER KETTLE BROOK

I-290 MM 14.8, Worcester, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 94,134

HWY MDDLSEX TPK

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

.7 M SE OF BILLERICA, Middlesex, MA

Built 1975 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 18,000

ST129 SALEM RD

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

0.75 MI E SALEM & BALDWIN, Middlesex, MA

Built 1932 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,600

HWY ST PAUL ST

Fair

Over: WATER CANAL

.2 MI W OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1880 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 8,453

HWY FAIRMOUNT AV

Fair

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

JUST NW OF TRUMAN HWY, Suffolk, MA

Built 1907 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 16,600

ST109 SPRING ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

@ DEDHAM TL = D05006, Suffolk, MA

Built 1861 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 31,422

I 90

Fair

Over: HWY SERVICE RD

AT RAILROAD YARDS S110, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 109,536

I 90

Fair

Over: OTHER RELIEF

AT RAILROAD YARDS S102, Suffolk, MA

Built 1964 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 109,536

I 93 SB

Fair

Over: HWY ALBANY ST

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 1997 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 164,570

HWY TOWNE RD

Fair

Over: WATER FISH BROOK

.1 MILES WEST MAIN STREET, Essex, MA

Built 1970 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 620

ST 3 & RAMPS

Fair

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

ST 3 AT TOWN BROOK, Norfolk, MA

Built 1980 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 112,669

HWY NEPONSET ST

Fair

Over: WATER E BR NEPONSET RIV

W. OF R.R. VIADUCT, Norfolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 17,586

HWY BURRNGTON RD

Fair

Over: WATER HARTWELL BROOK

200W OF HARRIS MT. RD., Franklin, MA

Built 2003 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

US 3

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BRK

0.25 MI S RT 3 & RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 126,338

US 3

Fair

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

1 MI NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100,800

HWY SOUTH ST

Fair

Over: WATER DEAD BR WSTFLD RIV

.1 MI SOUTH OF COWPER RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1979 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 388

HWY FULLER RD

Fair

Over: WATER COOLEY BROOK

.8 M E OF SHERIDAN STREET, Hampden, MA

Built 1958 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,664

HWY CLAMSHELL RD

Fair

Over: RR BMRR (ABANDONED)

0.3 MI E OF ST-70, Worcester, MA

Built 1903 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 285

HWY BORDER ST

Fair

Over: WATER THE GULF

WEST OF PARKER AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1880 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,200

HWY ELM ST

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

1.2 KM NE RT 2 & RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1874 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,100

ST 62 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER POWER CANAL

2.4 KM SW RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1885 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 14,400

Showing 3,351-3,400 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.