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 MONUMENT ST

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

2.9 KM N OF RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1877 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 6,607

HWY RCK DNDEE RD

Fair

Over: WATER PASKAMANSETT RIVER

0.1 MI S OF TANNERY LANE, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,500

ST135 DEDHAM AVE

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

0.48 KM NW OF ST 128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1909 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 23,017

HWY GREENDALE AV

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.1 MI.NE OF NEEDHAM AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1876 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,700

HWY WILLIAMS ST

Fair

Over: WATER SEGREGANSET RIVER

2.8 MI. S OF TAUNTON T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,714

HWY W UNION ST

Fair

Over: WATER MATFIELD RIVER

.6 MI SW RTE 18, Plymouth, MA

Built 1902 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,655

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER SATUCKET RIVER

.7 MI NO OF JCT 106, Plymouth, MA

Built 1970 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,900

ST 49 PODUNK PIKE

Fair

Over: WATER BROOK

0.4 MI S OF SPENCER TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1972 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 7,058

HWY SULL & MECH

Fair

Over: WATER QUESET BROOK

0.1MI N OF MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1969 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,800

ST 24 @ STA 91

Fair

Over: WATER INTERCEPTOR DRAIN

0.3 MI N OF I-195, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 34,261

ST 31 PRINCETON RD

Fair

Over: WATER WHITMANS RIVER

1.0 MI N OF ST 2, Worcester, MA

Built 1929 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 6,854

HWY PUTNAM ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

AT BOULDER ST & PUTNAM ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,261

HWY PEARL HL RD

Fair

Over: WATER FALLULAH BROOK

0.1M N OF JOHN FITCH HWY, Worcester, MA

Built 1970 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,400

ST 2

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

JUST WEST OF ST-2 MM 97.4, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 47,074

ST 2 ON RAMP H

Fair

Over: WATER WYMAN BROOK

1000 FT. W. OF ST-31, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,700

ST 31 PRINCETON RD

Fair

Over: WATER WYMAN BROOK

50 FT S OF ST-2, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,000

ST 2

Fair

Over: WATER OTTER RIVER

ROUTE 2 MM 85.32, Worcester, MA

Built 1969 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 23,526

ST140 N MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER QUINSIGAMOND RIVER

0.1 MI N OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1850 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 14,301

ST122 A/MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE CANAL

.5 MI N OF JCT ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1898 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 47,240

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER QUINSIGAMOND RIVER

I-90 MM 98.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 93,785

HWY AMHERST ST

Fair

Over: WATER ALDRICH LAKE

.5 MI S OF RTE 116, Hampshire, MA

Built 1952 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,086

HWY SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: WATER BACHELOR BROOK

0.6 MI N OF RT 202, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,646

HWY OLD WESTFLD

Fair

Over: WATER TILLOTSON BROOK

1.6MI N. OF JCT W/ RTE 57, Hampden, MA

Built 1938 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,034

I 91

Fair

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

MM 45.0 ON I-91 SB, Franklin, MA

Built 1964 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 31,085

HWY S MAPLE ST

Fair

Over: WATER FORT RIVER

1.1 MI. SO. OF RTE. 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 6,538

HWY S MONSON RD

Fair

Over: WATER TEMPLE BROOK

1.2 MI E OF SCANTIC RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,068

HWY WASHNGTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

PEMBROKE-HANOVER TOWNLINE, Plymouth, MA

Built 1904 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,786

I 495

Fair

Over: WATER E MEADOW RIVER

1.1 M N OF EXIT 111, Essex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 63,975

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF I-495, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 102,416

HWY COUNTY ST

Fair

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

.48 KM SOUTH CENTRAL ST, Essex, MA

Built 1861 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 6,200

HWY BULLHILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER PONTOOSUC LAKE

.2 MI WEST OF ROUTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,009

I 495 RP M&MERRK S

Fair

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

NEXT TO I495, Essex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 16,940

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER BASIN POND BROOK

.2MI.E.CHESTNUT ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 29,416

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER GREENWATER BROOK

WEST OF MILE MARKER 13.7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 29,416

ST 13 MAIN ST

Fair

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

500 FT E OF ST.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1872 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 16,806

HWY MECHANIC ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

.1 M EAST OF ST. 12, Worcester, MA

Built 1873 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 11,008

ST 12 CENTRAL ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

AT CORNER OF MANNING AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 20,557

HWY GRANITE ST

Fair

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

1 MILE SOUTH OF ST 2, Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,353

HWY SHUTESBRY RD

Fair

Over: WATER ROARING BROOK

JUST W OF SHUTESBURY LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,069

I 91

Fair

Over: WATER LONGMEADOW BROOK

AT MM 0.8 ON I-91, Hampden, MA

Built 1960 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 80,014

ST110 CHURCH

Fair

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

0.25 MI W RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1858 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,000

HWY HOLYOKE ST

Fair

Over: WATER HIGHER BROOK

1 MI E OF CHICOPEE, Hampden, MA

Built 1901 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,474

HWY SUMMER ST

Fair

Over: WATER BAKER BROOK

.2 MI. E. OF FICHBRG C.L., Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 7,670

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: WATER SAUGUS RIVER

2.9 KM S US1, Essex, MA

Built 1940 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 119,800

HWY MILL ST

Fair

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.2 MI. N. OF RT. 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1937 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,040

ST117 GREAT RD

Fair

Over: WATER MILL CANAL

INTER OF WINTER& RT117, Middlesex, MA

Built 1850 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,011

HWY OSGOOD ST

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.16 KM W ST 28, Essex, MA

Built 1869 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,500

HWY CHERRY ST

Fair

Over: WATER FALL BROOK

ADJACENT TO I-495, Plymouth, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,200

I 90

Fair

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI W OF ST-146, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 130,647

ST 9 BOYLSTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEWTON-WELLESLEY TWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 51,270

Showing 3,401-3,450 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.