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 BARLOW AVE

Good

Over: I 195

1.8 M E OF RTE 105, Plymouth, MA

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 571

ST126 N MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

@ CORNER OF MAIN AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1972 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 19,800

I 91 NB

Good

Over: HWY LWR WESTFIELD RD

MM 12.4 ON I-91 NB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 50,043

I 91 SB

Good

Over: HWY LWR WESTFIELD RD

MM 12.4 ON I-91 SB, Hampden, MA

Built 1965 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 50,043

HWY STATE HWY

Good

Over: WATER HARIPHS CREEK

6 M W OF TISBURY TL, Dukes, MA

Built 1998 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 4,138

HWY TOWN FARM RD

Good

Over: WATER WACHUSETT BROOK

0.2MI N OF RT.62, Worcester, MA

Built 1919 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 300

HWY E HOOSAC ST

Good

Over: WATER MILLER BROOK

140 EAST OF COUNTRY ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2006 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 129

ST147 SPRINGFLD ST

Good

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

RTE 147 AT WESTFIELD RIV, Hampden, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,500

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.5M E RT 63 BY DAM, Hampshire, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 517

HWY APPLE VLY RD

Good

Over: WATER UP BRNCH CLSSN BK

1/4 MI. N. OF HAWLEY RD., Franklin, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 240

HWY WASHNGTN AVE

Good

Over: WATER S ATHOL PND OUTLET

.05M W OF SO. ATHOL ROAD, Worcester, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

I 95 SB

Good

Over: HWY NORTH AVE

.5 MI.N OF I-295, Bristol, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 61,785

I 95 NB

Good

Over: HWY NORTH AVE

.5 MI N OF I 295, Bristol, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 60,171

HWY BENNETTS CRS

Good

Over: WATER BENNETTS BROOK

150 SOUTH OF ROUTE 2A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

HWY PINGRY WAY

Good

Over: WATER BENNETTS BRK TRIB

850 FEET E OF BENNETTS CR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

HWY WHITEHALL WY

Good

Over: WATER ARNOLDS BROOK

1/2 MILE E. OF ST126, Norfolk, MA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125

US 5 BRATLBORO RD

Good

Over: WATER SHATTUCK BROOK

.3 M S JCT KEETS BROOK RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,198

HWY DARTMOUTH ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.16 KM S OF I90/COPLY PL., Suffolk, MA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,310

HWY HARVARD ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

.33 MI W OF SR28, Suffolk, MA

Built 1904 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,200

HWY FREIGHT COR

Good

Over: WATER RESERVE CHANNEL

MPA FREIGHT OFF SUMMER ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 597

HWY S BOS BYPASS

Good

Over: COMB AMTRAK/MBTA&RED LN

.6 MI S OF JCT I 90 I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,776

US 6 /ST28/CRNBRY

Good

Over: WATER COHASSET NARROWS

AT WAREHAM BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,170

HWY PLAIN ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

.32 KM E OF ST 37, Norfolk, MA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,198

ST 19 WALES RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

0.5 MI S OF US 20, Hampden, MA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,750

HWY NILMAN RD

Good

Over: WATER CLARK BROOK

200 S. OF E. BUCKLAND RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 517

HWY MIDDLESEX TP

Good

Over: WATER VINE BROOK

150 S OF ST-62, Middlesex, MA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,207

HWY REVOLUTION W

Good

Over: WATER EB NEPONSET RIVER

AT/NEAR NEPONSET STREET, Norfolk, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,586

HWY ROCHESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

@ CARVER/MIDDLEBOROUGH TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,400

HWY TOWER RD

Good

Over: WATER CHICKLEY RIVER

400 WEST OF ROUTE 8A, Franklin, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

ST 2 @ STA 380

Good

Over: WATER HARTWELL BROOK

2000E&W OF BURRINGTON RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,241

HWY W OXBOW RD

Good

Over: WATER WILDER BROOK

.2MI N. OF BURNT HILL RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 135

ST129 BILLERICA RD

Good

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

1.6 KM W OF RTE 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,535

HWY SHORE DRIVE

Good

Over: WATER FREEMAN LAKE SPLWY

0.3 MI WEST OF GRACE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

HWY IRELAND ST

Good

Over: WATER BRONSON BRK WEST B

.2 MI S OF JCT ST143, Hampshire, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 767

HWY ATLANTIC AVE

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE HARBOR INLT

.09 MI N OF BEECH ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,241

HWY HEATH RD

Good

Over: WATER UNNMD TRB WB NORTH

@ ADAMSVILLE INT., Franklin, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 388

HWY CALL RD

Good

Over: WATER FOX BROOK

1 MI S. OF RTE 112 INT, Franklin, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 120

HWY CAMBRDGE TPK

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

0.8 MI NW OF ST-2, Middlesex, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,900

ST128

Good

Over: WATER WATERS RIVER

0.4 MI N OF ST-114, Essex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 80,652

HWY FNCE CRNR RD

Good

Over: I 195

.7 MI.N OF US 6, Bristol, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 55,086

HWY PROVDNCE HWY

Good

Over: WATER MOTHER BROOK

.32 KM. N OF ST 1A, Norfolk, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,200

HWY UPPER COUNTY

Good

Over: WATER SWAN POND RIVER

.9 MI W OF RTE 28, Barnstable, MA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,552

ST 28 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER SWAN POND RIVER

.1 MI E OF RTE 134, Barnstable, MA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,000

HWY CRESCENT ST

Good

Over: WATER KEYUP BROOK

SO.OF 2 EAST OF ARCH ST, Franklin, MA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

ST133 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER ESSEX RIVER

.1 MI E ESSEX CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,620

HWY BRIGHTMAN ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.2 W OF N.MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1900 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,214

HWY COUNTRY CLUB

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.2 MI WEST OF N. MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 714

HWY RAMP G

Good

Over: COMB CENTRAL ST & MACRR

I 195 WB TO 79 NB, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,300

HWY RAMP C

Good

Over: I 195

AT E END OF BRAGA BR, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,200

HWY S COUNTY RD

Good

Over: WATER COLD RIVER

0.7MI E OF INT W/SAVOY RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

Showing 3,601-3,650 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.