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 WALDEN ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

2.1 KM S OF JCT SR2A&16, Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 9,181

US 44 CONNECTOR B

Good

Over: HWY CHERRY ST

ST 44 RAMP AT ST 3, Plymouth, MA

Built 2003 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 6,786

ST 1 A/SB

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

SEGMENT 2, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 15,000

ST 1 A/SB

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

SEGMENT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 15,000

US 1 RAMP S-TB

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I 93 US RT 1 INTERCHANG, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 15,409

I 90 WB & RP1ASB

Good

Over: COMB SR-14 & BLUE LINE

SEGMENT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 41.4 t

US 1 WASHNGTON ST

Good

Over: ST140 PIERCE ST

.1 MI S JCT US 1 & PINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 45,000

ST 53 WASHNGTON ST

Good

Over: ST 3 PILGRIM HWY

.5 M S OF NORWELL TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2012 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 27,100

HWY HOUGHTON RD

Good

Over: WATER E WACHUSETT BROOK

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

Built 1988 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 130

HWY PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: WATER MCKINSTRY BROOK

.15 MI N OF RTE 131, Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 2,260

I 93 RAMP NS

Good

Over: US 1 RAMP TC

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 19,945

HWY CLARK WRIGHT

Good

Over: WATER GLENDALE BROOK

AT GLENDALE FALLS, Hampshire, MA

Built 1998 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 100

I 93 HOV RAMP EB

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

0.5 MI S. OF I-90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 1,453

ST 3 A/CSHNG HWY

Good

Over: RR MBTA

MBTA/MBCR MP 17/811, Plymouth, MA

Built 1932 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 18,000

HWY COLE AVE

Good

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

400 WEST NORTH HOOSAC RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1950 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 3,786

HWY SHORE RD

Good

Over: WATER E BROOKFIELD RIVER

.15 MI E OF BRKFIELD LN, Worcester, MA

Built 2012 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,586

HWY MCCARTHY AVE

Good

Over: WATER KETTLE BROOK

S OF RT9 NEAR WORCESTER, Worcester, MA

Built 2007 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 400

US 3 /ST2&16/ALWF

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

.1 MI S OF RINGE AVE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1996 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 77,800

HWY HARBOR RD

Good

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

0.1 MI S OF INT W/ RTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 2011 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 120

US 6 NW RAMP

Good

Over: ST 79

500FT N OF VET MEM BRIDGE, Bristol, MA

Built 2011 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 1,500

I 495 SB

Good

Over: HWY WOBURN ST

AT I495 & WOBURN ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 64,355

HWY LEBANON AVE

Good

Over: WATER SW BR HOUSATONIC R

.1 M WEST OF HUNGERFORD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1913 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 1,655

HWY SO STA CONN

Good

Over: HWY INFIELD ACCESS

.5 KM E OF I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 3,100

I 95

Good

Over: TR AMESBURY RIVERWALK

1 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 67,816

I 95 NE RAMP

Good

Over: TR AMESBURY RIVERWALK

1 MI N MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,960

ST122 WORCESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER PRINCE RIVER

AT JCT ST RTE 32, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 3,644

US 20 CHESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER WALKER BROOK

MILE MARKER 32.5, Berkshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,552

HWY JONES RD

Good

Over: WATER NORTH BROOK

BTWN PLEASANT & SOUTH STS, Worcester, MA

Built 2001 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 800

ST 2 A/MASS AVE

Good

Over: ST 2 COMMONWEALTH AVE

JUST S CHARLES RIV, Suffolk, MA

Built 1937 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 14,482

HWY FRONTAGE RD

Good

Over: COMB I90 RPS&HOV&AMTK

.5 MI S I-90 EB, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,534

ST 3 NB

Good

Over: HWY RAMP C (Q ADAMS)

.3MI FROM CAPENS CIRCLE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1978 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 109,700

ST148 FISKDALE RD

Good

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

.5 MI. SOUTH OF RTE 9, Worcester, MA

Built 2015 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,283

HWY SOUTH POND R

Good

Over: WATER SOUTH POND INLET

.5 M W OF STURBRIDGE RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 517

I 91 NB

Good

Over: HWY LOWER RD

MM 38.9 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 2014 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 14,582

I 91 SB

Good

Over: HWY LOWER RD

MM 38.9 ON I-91 SB, Franklin, MA

Built 2015 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 15,872

HWY BROOK ST

Good

Over: WATER SEGREGANSET RIVER

0.2 MI W OF RT 138, Bristol, MA

Built 2014 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 428

ST 2 MOWHAWK TRAI

Good

Over: RR NECRR

0.7 M E CONN RIVER, Franklin, MA

Built 2008 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 8,668

HWY WATER ST CON

Good

Over: OTHER ACCESS TO MACRR

0.504 KM EAST OF WATER ST, Bristol, MA

Built 2015 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,600

ST 2

Good

Over: WATER FALL RIVER

MM 52.7 ON ST 2, Franklin, MA

Built 1931 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 28,448

ST 85 WASHNGTON ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.25 MI SOUTH OF ST 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 8,394

HWY PUTNAM RD

Good

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

200E OF JCT W/ MEADOW LN, Berkshire, MA

Built 2014 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 360

HWY CHAPEL ST

Good

Over: WATER GREENWATER BROOK

OFF 20 BTWN FORST&SLVR ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 129

HWY NEW LENOX RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

.5 MI E OF E NEW LENOX RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2016 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 71

HWY MCCRACKEN RD

Good

Over: HWY LUMBER YARD ACCESS

.1 MI. W. OF ST-146, Worcester, MA

Built 1998 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,284

HWY PINE HILL RO

Good

Over: I 95

AT PINE HILL RD, Essex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,900

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: WATER NISSITISSIT RIVER

.2 MI NORTH OF ST-113, Middlesex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 7,500

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: WATER W BR HOUSATONIC R

900 N OF RTE 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 2023 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 129

ST 41 CNTRL BKSHRE

Good

Over: WATER MT LEBANON BROOK

0.1 MI N OF RICHMOND TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1991 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,305

HWY NEWFIELD ST

Good

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

184FT S. OF SUMMER ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 2019 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,800

HWY ROBERTSON ST

Good

Over: I 93 /US1/ST3

3.2 KM N OF JCT I93&128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1958 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 3,200

Showing 4,051-4,100 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.