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 3 A/MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER JONES RIVER

ST 3A AT ST 80, Plymouth, MA

Built 1895 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 30,905

I 190 SB

Good

Over: HWY FLANAGAN HILL RD

.6 MI. EAST OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 20,783

HWY BEMIS RD

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

0.2 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 11,967

ST 28 BROADWAY

Good

Over: ST213

.6 MILE E OF I 93, Essex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 38,147

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER STOP RIVER

1.5 MI W OF RTE 1 A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1997 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 6,500

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: ST146

.5 MI.WST.OF ST.146A, Worcester, MA

Built 1984 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 288

HWY RAMP L

Good

Over: HWY RAMP FL

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 22,241

HWY MILLER AVE

Good

Over: WATER SCHENOB BROOK

300 WEST OF ROUTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1996 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 1,164

HWY PLAIN ST

Good

Over: I 495

.5 MI N OF S WASHINGTON S, Bristol, MA

Built 1980 Load: 39.7 t ADT: 1,000

HWY TOWNSEND ST

Good

Over: WATER BAKER BROOK

.3 MI N OF RTE 2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 4,267

HWY ROBIN HLL ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.2 MI NE OF NORTHBORO TL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2010 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 1,300

HWY SO STA CONN

Good

Over: COMB MBTA & RELIEF

SOUTH STATION, Suffolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t

US 1 RP ABUT-BT50

Good

Over: HWY ARLINGTON ST

1.3 KM NE OF TOBIN BR., Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 850

ST146 SB

Good

Over: HWY MAIN ST

AT SUTTON T. L., Worcester, MA

Built 1982 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 22,745

HWY ELM ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.3 MI SE OF SCHOOL ST., Bristol, MA

Built 2005 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 13,836

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

AT CORNER OF RIVER AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 2,600

HWY NEWTON RD

Good

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

AT TREATMENT PLANT, Essex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 1,939

HWY ADAMSVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR NORTH RIVER

.75 M N OF RTE 112, Franklin, MA

Built 1939 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 570

HWY MALDEN ST

Good

Over: I 190

1.7 MI S OF W BOYLSTON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 40.1 t ADT: 5,172

HWY RAMP K/L

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 44,224

HWY TALL PINES L

Good

Over: WATER TRIB TO TEN MILE R

.25 MI. WEST OF RT.152, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 500

I 93 NB

Good

Over: I 93 SB/AUSTN ST/MBTA

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 36,462

HWY OLD GOSHEN

Good

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

0.8MI E INT W/ RT9 & E ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1999 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 129

HWY RAMP U-A

Good

Over: HWY RAMP S-A

1.20 KM SE OF CALLAHAN TU, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 13,000

ST 1 A/RP E-1ASB

Good

Over: COMB ST 1A NB & BLUE L

SEGMENT 3, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t

HWY RAMP K

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

BOSTON MASS AVE. INT., Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 45,000

HWY ALBANY EXT

Good

Over: I 90 RAMP H

.25 KM N OF I90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 11,250

HWY OXFORD AVE

Good

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.1 MILE NO. OF ST - 12, Worcester, MA

Built 2000 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 6,504

US202 /ST10/COLLGE

Good

Over: WATER JOHNSON BROOK

1.1 M N JCT ST 168, Hampden, MA

Built 2012 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 15,517

I 90 EB

Good

Over: WATER LARRYWAUG BROOK

AT MILE MARKER 5.4, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 12,314

ST 80

Good

Over: US 44

1.5 MI E OF PARTNG WY RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 2004 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 4,267

I 495 NB

Good

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

3.2KM SOUTH OF RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 61,200

I 495 NB

Good

Over: HWY WOBURN ST

AT JCT I495 & WOBURN ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 64,233

US 44 EB (CON D)

Good

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

1.1 KM S OF KINGSTON TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2003 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 9,957

US 44 WB (CON A)

Good

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

1.1 KM S OF KINGSTON TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2003 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 15,776

ST 25 WB

Good

Over: WATER MILL POND

.1 M W OF GLEN CHARLIE RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1987 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 47,845

HWY CONWAY RD

Good

Over: WATER WEST BROOK

275 N OF WEBER/CONWY RDS, Franklin, MA

Built 1997 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 422

I 290

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

MM30.8 E OF SLMN PD RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1968 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 75,828

HWY LANDHAM RD

Good

Over: WATER HOP BROOK

.3 MI S OF RTE 20, Middlesex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 17,720

HWY MENAUHANT RD

Good

Over: WATER GREEN POND

.1 MI E ACAPESKET RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1995 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 5,043

HWY CLINTON ST

Good

Over: WATER BACK RIVER

2.4 K WEST OF I 95, Essex, MA

Built 2001 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,500

I 93 RAMP FX

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93/I90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 1,333

I 93 HOV RAMP EB

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

.16 KM S OF I-90 EB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 10,000

HWY WASH MTN RD

Good

Over: WATER WASHNGTN MTN BROOK

.25 M EAST OF WOODLAND RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 160

I 93 RAMP X

Good

Over: HWY BROADWAY

I93/I90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 2,546

ST 28 MONTELLO ST

Good

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

0.75 M N OF GROVE ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1889 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 16,300

US 1 NB/S ABT PR1

Good

Over: HWY ARLINGTON & 5TH ST

.7 MI NE OF TOBIN BR., Suffolk, MA

Built 1957 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 41,988

HWY MCCRACKEN RD

Good

Over: COMB ST146&PWRR&BLKSTN

.1 MI. W OF ST. RTE. 122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1998 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 35,000

I 90 EB & RP1ANB

Good

Over: HWY SR-14

SEGMENT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 41.1 t

HWY SO STA OB RP

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

SOUTH STATION, Suffolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 41.1 t

Showing 4,001-4,050 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.