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

ST 9 WORCESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER RESERVOIR OUTLET

.5 MI. WEST OF TEMPLE ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 41,604

I 90 EB

Good

Over: WATER MDC RES 3

MM 112/E OF EXIT 111/ST9, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 52,197

HWY PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: RR BMRR

.1 MI. NORTH OF ST-2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1885 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,050

HWY BROOKSIDE DR

Good

Over: WATER DRAINAGE

0.4 MILES NORTH CLARK ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t

HWY BROOKSIDE DR

Good

Over: WATER WILDER BROOK

200 N. OF 282 BROOKSIDE, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

HWY LEO DRIVE

Good

Over: WATER WETLAND

400 FT W. OF BROOKSIDE DR, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

HWY THURLOW ST

Good

Over: WATER PARKER RIVER

0.2 MI EAST MULBERRY ST, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,154

I 495 NB

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 118,146

I 495 SB

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

.4 MI S ST110, Essex, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 59,925

ST 8 A/JCKSNVL ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

100 N OF DELL ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 284

HWY OLD WINDSOR

Good

Over: WATER CADY BROOK

JUST S OF MAY RD INTERSEC, Berkshire, MA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 647

HWY MIDDLEFLD RD

Good

Over: WATER BENNETT BROOK

0.6 MI EAST FROM ROUTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1932 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 776

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER

INT RIVER ST & HARRIS, Worcester, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

HWY HILLSIDE DR

Good

Over: WATER DEER BROOK

0.2 MI S OF MARSHALL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

HWY OLD SWMLL RD

Good

Over: WATER DEER BROOK

RE, Middlesex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

HWY LYMAN ST

Good

Over: WATER FIRST LEVEL CANAL

AT JCT FRONT ST., Hampden, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,895

HWY FRUIT ST

Good

Over: COMB MBTA/CSX & SUDBURY

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

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,600

HWY WEDGEWOOD DR

Good

Over: WATER BROOK

150 FT W OF SINGLETARY WY, Middlesex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,800

HWY EVERGREEN RD

Good

Over: WATER MASON BROOK

0.6 MI. E. OF ST-68, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 780

ST 62 OLD BSTN TPK

Good

Over: WATER W BR WARE RIVER

.5 MI WEST OF ROUTE 68, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,550

ST 62 OLD BSTN TPK

Good

Over: WATER W BR WARE RIV TRIB

EAST OF FIRE TRUCK FILL, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,550

HWY RAWSON ST

Good

Over: WATER CEDR MDW PND INLT

1.2 MI S OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 286

HWY ROARING BK R

Good

Over: WATER ROARING BROOK

.4 MI S. OF NEW LENOX RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY EDGEWOOD DR

Good

Over: WATER YOKUM BROOK

200 FT W OF EAST ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY ORCHRD HL PK

Good

Over: WATER BROOK

2000 FT N OF HARVARD ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,069

HWY COATES RD

Good

Over: WATER GLEN BROOK

600 E INT GREENFIELD RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: WATER LWR PAWTUCKET CNL

SOUTH OF MARKET ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1835 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,184

HWY MARKET ST

Good

Over: WATER WESTERN CANAL

AT MICHALOPOULOS SQ, Middlesex, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,900

HWY PAWTUCKET ST

Good

Over: WATER NORTHERN CANAL

AT FRENCH ST EXT, Middlesex, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,900

HWY PAWTUCKET ST

Good

Over: WATER PAWTUCKET CANAL

AT MERRIMACK RIVER, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,800

HWY VFW HWY

Good

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

1.6 KM E UNVRSTY OF LWLL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,788

HWY CANAL ST

Good

Over: WATER PAWTUCKET CANAL

0.15 KM FROM DUTTON ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

HWY ELM ST

Good

Over: WATER MILLHAM BROOK

960 E OF BOUNDARY ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,164

HWY BEACH ST

Good

Over: WATER CUT RIVER

.3 MI E OF RTE 139, Plymouth, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,300

HWY FLORIDA RD

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.1 MI N OF ST-62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,850

ST 38 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER MYSTIC RIVER

.1 MI N OF ST16, Middlesex, MA

Built 1908 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 67,900

HWY COLONIAL DR

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.3 MI E OF PROVIDENCE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 900

I 93

Good

Over: ST110 /ST113/LOWELL ST

.9 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 112,881

HWY DEER ST

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

800 FT. FROM ST85, Worcester, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,500

HWY RAYCROFT RD

Good

Over: WATER DUNBAR BROOK

300 FROM INT. W/ MAIN RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY RIVER RD

Good

Over: WATER KONKAPOT RIVER

S OF RT23 @ GOULD RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 357

HWY UMPCHN FALLS

Good

Over: WATER KONKAPOT RIVER

E OF JCT BRNCH RD&CL ML R, Berkshire, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

I 91 NB

Good

Over: COMB US 5 & GWRR

MM 22.8 ON I-91, Hampshire, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,935

I 91 NB

Good

Over: HWY HOCKANUM RD

1.9 M N EASTHAMPTON T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,935

HWY DOUGLAS RD

Good

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

AT JCT WITH FLETCHER STR, Worcester, MA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,771

HWY SAMUEL DRV

Good

Over: WATER CARPNTR RSV INLT S

0.4 MI N OF CARPENTER RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

HWY SAMUEL DRV

Good

Over: WATER CARPNTR RSV INLT N

.5 MI N OF CARPENTER RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

HWY HANNAH DR

Good

Over: WATER UNNAMED STREAM

240 EAST OF CARPENTER RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

US 1 PROVDNCE HWY

Good

Over: WATER PURGATORY BROOK

.1 MI S OF UNIVERSITY AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 65,302

HWY EAST RD

Good

Over: HWY WEST BROOK

2.6 MILES NORTH JCT 2A, Franklin, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,192

Showing 3,651-3,700 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.