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

US 20 HARTFORD TPK

Good

Over: WATER FLINT POND

1.5 MI. E. OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 2001 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 24,182

HWY EAMES ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.4 MI NE OF RTE 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 5,800

HWY LIME ST

Good

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

.2 MI E OF RTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 1998 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 1,571

US 6 EB/MD CP HWY

Good

Over: HWY MARY DUNN RD

1.25 M W OF WILLOW ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1966 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 19,700

HWY HANCOCK RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

JUST S OF POTOOSUC LAKE, Berkshire, MA

Built 1996 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 6,078

I 90 RAMP D

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I 90 EXIT 22, Suffolk, MA

Built 1981 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 9,569

HWY BARTLETT ST

Good

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

100FT N OF WAREHAM AVE, Plymouth, MA

Built 2011 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 5,302

HWY BOUNDARY ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

100 FT. SE OF NTHBRO T.L., Middlesex, MA

Built 2010 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 4,239

HWY SPRING ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

BEHIND CITY HALL, Bristol, MA

Built 2005 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 9,827

HWY GEER HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER MEEKIN BROOK

230N OF RT143, Hampshire, MA

Built 2007 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 129

HWY MIDDLBORO AV

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

MP QNB 17.8, Bristol, MA

Built 2000 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 4,500

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: ST 57

MM 42.5 ON ST 57, Hampden, MA

Built 1991 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 8,147

HWY WNDL DEPO RD

Good

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

AT JCT OF RTE 2A, Franklin, MA

Built 2000 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 400

HWY PECKS RD

Good

Over: WATER ONOTA BROOK

.3 MI W OF RTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1988 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 3,100

I 93 RAMP LC-N

Good

Over: I 93 RAMP S-N BOAT

UNIT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 12,400

HWY FOX HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER CLARK BROOK

300 S OF WOODWARD RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1992 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 120

HWY SOUTH ST

Good

Over: WATER STOP RIVER

300FT N OF INDIAN HILL RD, Norfolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 3,500

HWY VIADUCT ST

Good

Over: COMB CNGRSS&HAUL RD&CSX

AT WORLD TRADE CENTER, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 700

ST119 SOUTH RD

Good

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

AT PEPPERELL TOWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1931 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 13,298

HWY HAMILTON ST

Good

Over: WATER SAUGUS RIVER

AT SAUGUS RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 9,786

HWY DANA AVE

Good

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

AT NEPONSET RIVER, Suffolk, MA

Built 1908 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 11,900

HWY SUMMER ST

Good

Over: HWY W SERVICE RD EXT

AT CONVENTION CENTER, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 14,224

I 95 NB

Good

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

.7 MI SW OF I 495, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 60,462

HWY THURBER AVE

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

AMTRAK RR MP 194/51, Bristol, MA

Built 1990 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 6,853

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: RR HRR

100 N INT W/ WILLW 77.57, Berkshire, MA

Built 1998 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 6,724

HWY PROTECTION

Good

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

500 N OF JCT W/RTE 2, Berkshire, MA

Built 1950 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 1,681

HWY SOUTH ST

Good

Over: RR MCRR SPUR

AT JCT BENHAM ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 2000 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 1,810

US 20 CONNECTOR

Good

Over: ST146

.1 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1996 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 24,616

ST 16 MENDON ST

Good

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 12,888

ST 27 DEPOT ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

AT RAILROAD STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 23,275

HWY ALMOND ST

Good

Over: RR (ABANDONED)

.1 MI N OF WILLIAM ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1897 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 2,357

US 20 LAUREL ST

Good

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

AT SUMMER ST INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1985 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 12,893

HWY LOWER VALLEY

Good

Over: WATER DEPOT BROOK

.3 MI S OF CROSS PLACE RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2007 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 129

HWY FIVE BRIDGE

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

0.5 M E INT NEWHOLLAND RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1939 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 300

HWY FITZPTRCK WY

Good

Over: WATER TIDAL INLET

.5 MI E OF SPINNAKER ISL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2003 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 7,758

HWY MAPLE ST

Good

Over: WATER CANOE RIVER

.3 MI WEST OF FRANKLIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 1,428

I 90 WB

Good

Over: ST146

MM94 0.3 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 43,581

HWY HALE RD

Good

Over: WATER NATTY POND BROOK

0.8MI N OF RT.62, Worcester, MA

Built 2000 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 130

HWY VAUGHN ST

Good

Over: WATER NEMASKET RIVER

MIDDLEBORO TOWN LINE, Plymouth, MA

Built 2002 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 2,069

HWY HARTFORD AVE

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.1 MI EAST OF NECK HILL R, Worcester, MA

Built 1991 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 10,050

US202 PRPLE HRT DR

Good

Over: HWY CANAL ST

100 N OF CONN RIVER, Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 23,167

I 90 EB

Good

Over: ST146

MM94 0.3 MI S OF US-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 43,740

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.6 MI W OF ST-85, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 700

ST140 SB

Good

Over: ST 79 MYRICKS ST

3.2 MI. SO. OF ROUTE 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1970 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 14,553

HWY LORING AVE

Good

Over: WATER WEIR CREEK

2.4KM SOUTH OF ST 28, Barnstable, MA

Built 1999 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 1,100

HWY PERRY AVE

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.15 MI NO OF SANDWICH RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1993 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 642

HWY DOVER RD

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.6 KM E OF NATICK LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 11,900

HWY HARVARD ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.1 MI. N. OF ST-2, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 8,300

HWY WILEY ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.16 KM. S. OF RT. 129, Middlesex, MA

Built 1971 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 500

HWY VILLAGE HILL

Good

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

125 E OF INT W/ ROUTE 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1999 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 786

Showing 3,901-3,950 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.