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 2

Good

Over: ST202

MM 70.7 ON ST 2/US 202, Franklin, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,100

HWY TANNERY RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR FARMINGTON R

400 EAST OF ROUTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 2024 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY ENDICOTT ST

Good

Over: WATER PROCTOR BROOK

500 N OF LOWELL ST, Essex, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,600

HWY GLN VALLY RD

Good

Over: WATER E BR SWIFT RIVER

0.3 MI E NICHEWAUG RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

HWY HOLMES RD

Good

Over: RR HRR

1.4 MI N OF LENX TL 83.80, Berkshire, MA

Built 1977 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 79,829

HWY NEW RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

.2 MI WEST OF ROUTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,034

US 44 CAPE HWY

Good

Over: ST 24

US 44 AT ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,000

HWY REED ST

Good

Over: WATER PALMER RIVER

1 MI E OF SEEKONK, Bristol, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 643

ST145 REV BCH PKWY

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.1 MI E OF ST 1A, Suffolk, MA

Built 1899 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 51,500

HWY KINGS HWY

Good

Over: WATER PELHAM BROOK

AT INT. WITH ZOAR RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

HWY FORD HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER SHPPEE BROOK

.01 E OF NEWELL CROSS RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY N FITZWLM RD

Good

Over: WATER LAWRENCE BROOK

BTOWN LOMIS RD& NH BORDER, Worcester, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 187

ST 8 /ST57/SNDSFD

Good

Over: WATER W BR FARMINGTON R

@ TANNERY RD INT., Berkshire, MA

Built 1930 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,829

HWY ALAN RD

Good

Over: WATER FARMINGTON RIVER

AT ROUTE 8 INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY CENTER RD

Good

Over: WATER CENTER BROOK

0.2 MI N OF JCT W/ 116, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 647

HWY BERK SCHOOL

Good

Over: WATER SCHENOB BROOK

.5 MI W. OF SALISBURY RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,200

ST 7 A/ASHLEY FLS

Good

Over: RR HRR

1.4 MI N OF CONN SL 51.49, Berkshire, MA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY BARDWLL FRRY

Good

Over: WATER DRAGON BROOK

0.2M SE OF ORCHARD ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY LONGLEY RD

Good

Over: WATER MULPUS BROOK

.1 MI. NE. OF RT. 2A, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 800

ST140 BOYLSTON ST

Good

Over: I 290

MM 24.8, Worcester, MA

Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,092

HWY BROADWAY

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

2.4 KM NW OF JCT SR28&38, Middlesex, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,000

HWY EAST ST

Good

Over: WATER MANHAN RIVER

AT INT WITH STRONG RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,724

I 90 WB

Good

Over: ST 85 CORDAVILLE RD

I-90 MM 108.7, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50,878

I 90 EB

Good

Over: ST 85 CORDAVILLE RD

AT MM 108.7, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 51,120

HWY ANGELICA LN

Good

Over: WATER ANGELICA BROOK

400 EAST OF PINE HILL RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

HWY KATHLEEN LN

Good

Over: WATER WEKEPEKE BROOK

280FT SOUTH OF N. ROW RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

ST183 INTERLAKN RD

Good

Over: WATER LARRYWAUG BROOK

500 N OF INT W/ RTE 102, Berkshire, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,621

HWY AVERIC RD

Good

Over: WATER LARRYWAUG BROOK

50 WEST OF RT 183, Berkshire, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 120

HWY DUTTON RD

Good

Over: WATER HOP BROOK

0.4 MI SOUTH OF HUDSON RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,000

HWY BLACKSTNE ST

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

0.1M N OF RT122A @GRAFTON, Worcester, MA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 72

ST140 WASHNGTON ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.1 MI NE OF TREMONT ST, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,538

HWY W MEADOW RD

Good

Over: WATER LOCKE BROOK

.15 MI. N. OF ST-119, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 516

ST146 NB

Good

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

1.6 M N OF ST-16, Worcester, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,900

HWY WOERD AVE

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.6 KM. NE. OF NEWTON LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,760

HWY PAPER MLL RD

Good

Over: WATER WEWEANTIC RIVER

.2M NW OF MAIN ST., Plymouth, MA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 517

ST 67 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

0.1 MI S OF ST 19, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,896

HWY MIDDLEFLD RD

Good

Over: WATER COLES BROOK

.5 MI E OF JOHNSON HILL R, Berkshire, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 120

HWY KENTFIELD RD

Good

Over: WATER WHETSTONE BROOK

0.6 M S OF WENDELL DEPOT, Franklin, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

ST147 WB/MEM AVE

Good

Over: US 5 RIVERDALE ST

AT JCT US 5 & MEMORIAL AV, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,273

ST 41 GRT BARRNGTN

Good

Over: WATER WILLIAMS RIVER

AT INT. W/ COBB ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,305

HWY BEAVER BK RD

Good

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

.2 MI. E. OF LITTLETON LN, Middlesex, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,929

HWY NORTH RD

Good

Over: WATER ROBERTS MEADOW BRK

575 W CHESTERFIELD RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,164

HWY WHITMNVIL RD

Good

Over: WATER WHITMAN RIVER

2.7 MI N OF RT. 2A, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

ST 12 ASHBURNHM ST

Good

Over: WATER PHILLIPS BROOK

1.2 MI N OF FITCH. C.L., Worcester, MA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,438

HWY TMY FRNCS RD

Good

Over: WATER CROCKER POND INLET

120 W OF S ASHBRNHM RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

ST 62 MIDDLESEX AV

Good

Over: WATER LUBBERS BROOK

225FT W OF NORTH STREET, Middlesex, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,800

HWY ROBBINS RD

Good

Over: WATER ROBBINS BROOK

0.5 MI N OF ST12, Worcester, MA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

HWY SWANTON ST

Good

Over: WATER ABERJONA RIVER

E OF RT38 N OF WNCHSTR CT, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,344

HWY RIVER RD

Good

Over: WATER RIVER

1.2M NORTH OF W MAIN ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

HWY SALEM ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.9 KM S RTE 93, Middlesex, MA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,000

Showing 3,701-3,750 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.