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 WALLING RD

Good

Over: WATER TOPHET BROOK

.3MI E OF BURLINGAME HILL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 120

I 95 SB

Good

Over: HWY EVANS PLACE

1/8 MI N OF WHITTIER BRGE, Essex, MA

Built 2018 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 37,200

US 20 CHESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER WALKER BROOK

AT MILE MARKER 33.1, Berkshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,008

ST126 S MAIN ST

Good

Over: TR PEDESTRIAN PATH

.1 MI.S OF ELM ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 14,100

US 20 COMM AV/MBTA

Good

Over: COMB I 90 & MBTA/CSX

.1MI.S.STORROW DR S48, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 40,783

HWY SUMMER ST

Good

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

.3 M NORTH OF RIVER ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 2011 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 1,214

ST112 ASHFIELD RD

Good

Over: WATER CLARK BROOK

400 W OF WOODWARD RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2014 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,330

HWY CLEVELAND RD

Good

Over: WATER WAHCONAH FALLS BRK

.2 MI S OF RTE 9/8A, Berkshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 129

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER SALMON BROOK

.5 MI. N. OF RTE 113, Middlesex, MA

Built 2014 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,600

HWY ANAWAN ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

MCRR MM, Bristol, MA

Built 1904 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 8,500

HWY INNOVATION W

Good

Over: ST 24 NB & SB

1.4 MILES NORTH OF EXIT 8, Bristol, MA

Built 2011 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,214

HWY SAVOY RD

Good

Over: WATER CHICKLEY RIVER

.7 MI WEST OF 8A, Franklin, MA

Built 2016 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 129

ST 85 RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

1000FT S.OF SOUTHVILLE RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2014 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 8,359

HWY HOWLANDS LN

Good

Over: RR MBTA

MP 34/972 MBCR, Plymouth, MA

Built 1850 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 1,500

HWY WHITNEY ST

Good

Over: WATER MONOOSNOC BROOK

.4 MI N OF MECHANIC ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 5,000

ST 2

Good

Over: I 95 /ST128

1.6 KM S RT 2A & RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 84,703

ST146 WOR-PVD TPK

Good

Over: HWY W MAIN ST

.3MI. WST. OF MILBURY CTR, Worcester, MA

Built 2020 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 48,300

ST146 NB

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI. N. OF U.S.-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1997 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 21,856

ST 18 NB RAMP ST 6

Good

Over: HWY ELM ST

.1 MI SOUTH OF RT6, Bristol, MA

Built 2013 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 4,357

HWY CAMPBEL FALL

Good

Over: WATER WHITING RIVER

.1 MI E OF CANAAN VALLEY, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 259

HWY MURPHY ST

Good

Over: WATER SUCKER BROOK

500 FROM INT. KING ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 150

HWY STATE ST

Good

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

200 E OF EMERY ST, Hampden, MA

Built 2011 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 4,397

HWY HOWLEY ST

Good

Over: WATER NORTH RIVER

SW OF HRMONYGROVE CEMETRY, Essex, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 5,300

ST114 A/FALL RIVER

Good

Over: I 195

0.5 MI SE R.I. SL, Bristol, MA

Built 2012 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 41,500

ST 9 BELMONT ST E

Good

Over: WATER LAKE QUINSIGAMOND

100 F.T. E. OF LAKE AVE., Worcester, MA

Built 2016 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 29,900

ST 9 BELMONT ST W

Good

Over: WATER LAKE QUINSIGAMOND

100 F.T. E. OF LAKE AVE., Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 27,700

I 90 EB

Good

Over: HWY WOODLAND RD

I-90 MM 109.3, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 51,120

I 90 WB

Good

Over: HWY WOODLAND RD

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

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 50,878

ST 62 PRINCETON RD

Good

Over: WATER STILLWATER RIVER

.1MI. E. OF ST-140, Worcester, MA

Built 2011 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,835

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

1 MI. N. OF RT. 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1998 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 170

ST 67 /ST19/QUABOA

Good

Over: RR CSX

0.4 MI S OF ST 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1959 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 4,706

I 90 EB

Good

Over: HWY FLANDERS RD

I-90 MM 107.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 47,144

I 90 WB

Good

Over: HWY FLANDERS RD

I-90 MM 107.2, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 45,694

HWY ACCESS RD

Good

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

AT WESTON TRANSFER STA, Middlesex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 1,034

HWY MCKINSTRY AV

Good

Over: RR GWRR

.3 M E JCT MEADOW ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1993 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 4,655

HWY GILBERT ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.6 MI NW OF NORTON T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1876 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,072

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.3 MI N OF PAPERMILL RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1988 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,715

HWY CENTER ST

Good

Over: WATER WILLIAMS RIVER

@ INT OF CNTR ST & RT 102, Berkshire, MA

Built 1992 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,069

US 44

Good

Over: ST 58 MAIN ST

.9 MI E OF MIDDLEBORO TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2004 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 31,034

US 44

Good

Over: HWY SPRING ST

2.3 MI E OF ST 58, Plymouth, MA

Built 2004 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 42,413

HWY DWIGHT ST

Good

Over: WATER SECOND LEVEL CANAL

JUST SE OF 1ST CANAL, Hampden, MA

Built 1889 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 4,762

HWY MARSTN ST NB

Good

Over: I 495 RAMPS A & K

.25 MI. S. COMMONWEALTH D, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 3,600

HWY GOULD RD

Good

Over: WATER RAWSON BROOK

W OF NEW MRLBORO RD S 23, Berkshire, MA

Built 2000 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 129

HWY HOLLOWAY ST

Good

Over: ST140 SB

.9 MI NW OF LAKEVILLE T.L, Bristol, MA

Built 1970 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 1,163

HWY ZOAR RD

Good

Over: WATER DEERFIELD RIVER

AT FLORIDA LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 1986 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 903

HWY W CHURCH ST

Good

Over: WATER RUMFORD RIVER

0.1 M W OF MNSFIELD CENTR, Bristol, MA

Built 1988 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 500

I 95

Good

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

.5 MI.NE OF ST 1A, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 139,000

HWY LYMAN RD

Good

Over: WATER POND BROOK

N OF RTE 66 OPP BEAN HILL, Hampshire, MA

Built 1999 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 120

HWY UNIVRSTY AVE

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK & CANAL

0.2 MI S OF RTE 113, Middlesex, MA

Built 2014 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 13,500

HWY FISK MILL RD

Good

Over: WATER HINSDALE BROOK

0.5 MILE S. OF TOWN LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 1985 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 517

Showing 3,951-4,000 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.