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

ST116 BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: COMB CONN RIVER & PVRR

SOUTH HADLEY FALLS, Hampden, MA

Built 1990 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 20,000

HWY CRANBRY MDW

Good

Over: RR CSX

.3MI.WEST OF ST.31, Worcester, MA

Built 1996 Load: 44.9 t ADT: 800

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER MOTHER BROOK

.16 KM W OF KNIGHT ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 1976 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 17,198

I 90 WB

Good

Over: ST 1 A/NB & RP1ANB

SEGMENT 2, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 50,431

HWY SO STA BUSWY

Good

Over: COMB MBTA & RELIEF

SOUTH STATION, Suffolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 45.0 t

HWY HAYNS HLL RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

0.3M E OF RT19 S OF RT20, Hampden, MA

Built 2002 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 875

HWY GRANVILLE RD

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

0.75 MI W OF WESTERN AVE., Hampden, MA

Built 2004 Load: 45.0 t ADT: 6,724

HWY ROY AVE

Good

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

.2 MI E OF ST123, Bristol, MA

Built 2005 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 300

US 5 BRATLBORO RD

Good

Over: WATER COUCH BROOK

AT JCT COUCH BROOK DR., Franklin, MA

Built 1993 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 905

US 20 HUNTINGTN RD

Good

Over: WATER SANDERSON BROOK

MILE MARKER 37.7, Hampden, MA

Built 2004 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 2,574

HWY WATERS ST

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

@ CEMETARY ENTRANCE, Worcester, MA

Built 2003 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 100

HWY HOVEY RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

300 S OF RT 20, Hampden, MA

Built 2002 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 1,600

HWY RESERVOIR ST

Good

Over: WATER RUMFORD RIVER

1 MI N OF RTE 140, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 3,362

HWY LWR WESTFLD

Good

Over: RR PVRR

0.2 MI W OF US 5, Hampden, MA

Built 1923 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 11,508

HWY DAVIS RD

Good

Over: WATER LYONS BROOK

AT WENDELL TOWN LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 2004 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 60

HWY HAY ST

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

1 MI. SW OF RT. 1A, Essex, MA

Built 2007 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 400

US 44 WINTHROP ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.1 MI W OF TAUNTON GREEN, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 16,500

HWY PARKER ST

Good

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

CORNER OF CLOVER HILL RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2018 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,000

HWY CRESCENT ST

Good

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

CRECENT ST/MILLERS RIVER, Worcester, MA

Built 2020 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 4,333

US 20 CHESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER WALKER BROOK

AT MILE MARKER 32.0, Berkshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,552

HWY ELM ST

Good

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

OVER TAUNTON AT DIGHTON, Bristol, MA

Built 2015 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 6,071

HWY MORTON ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

.8KM SW OF JCTSR28&SR203, Suffolk, MA

Built 2015 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 40,862

ST 3 SB

Good

Over: HWY RAMP C (Q ADAMS)

AT ST 3 SB, Norfolk, MA

Built 1978 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 97,200

HWY MEADOWBRK RD

Good

Over: WATER CANAL

.16 KM S OF RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 1950 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,300

HWY MICA MILL RD

Good

Over: WATER COOK BROOK

.6 MI SOUTH OF LYMAN RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1985 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 129

HWY KINNE BK RD

Good

Over: WATER M BR WESTFIELD RIV

500E OF INT W/E.RIVER RD, Hampden, MA

Built 2009 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 129

HWY EAST RD

Good

Over: WATER CANYON BROOK

.1 MI. EAST OF ST8, Berkshire, MA

Built 2012 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 517

ST112 JCKSNVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER E BR NORTH RIVER

AT JCT RIVER ST., Franklin, MA

Built 2019 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,802

HWY PROVDNCE HWY

Good

Over: ST135 HIGH & HARRIS STS

PROVIDENCE HWY & WASH. ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 2010 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 50,700

HWY WILLOW ST

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

1.1 KM N OF DEDHAM, Norfolk, MA

Built 2013 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,800

HWY E BROADWAY

Good

Over: WATER MILLVALE BROOK

X OF MILLVALE ROAD, Essex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,500

HWY BURNSHIRT RD

Good

Over: WATER BURNSHIRT RIVER

@ CORNER OF THOMPSON RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1940 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,099

I 495 SB

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.5 MI N OF RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 43,698

HWY MARION ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.3 MI N RT 135, Middlesex, MA

Built 1896 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,703

HWY CEDAR RD

Good

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

.1 MI E OF CLIFTON ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1978 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 786

HWY COMINS RD

Good

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

300 FT E OF ST56, Worcester, MA

Built 2014 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 6,254

ST 24

Good

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

AT TAUNTON TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1951 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 67,109

HWY INTERVALE RD

Good

Over: WATER E BR WARE RIVER

2.1 MI. S. OF RT. 68, Worcester, MA

Built 2017 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 750

I 495 SB

Good

Over: WATER SNAKE RIVER

1.7 MI E OF NORTON TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1980 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 39,058

ST106 W CENTER ST

Good

Over: WATER HOCKOMOCK RIVER

.5 MI E OF ST 138, Plymouth, MA

Built 2017 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 14,857

HWY KINGS HWY

Good

Over: WATER N BR MANHAN RIVER

2M S PINE ISLAND LAKE, Hampshire, MA

Built 2001 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 884

HWY N ROYLSTN RD

Good

Over: WATER TARBELL BROOK

1.5M W OF RT12 BULLARDVLL, Worcester, MA

Built 2019 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,000

HWY PLANTATN ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.1 MI S OF ST 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1934 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 13,909

ST 9 BELMONT ST

Good

Over: I 290

.2 MI. EAST OF LINCOLN SQ, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 28,647

HWY CANAL ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

0.1 6 KM WEST OF MARSTON, Essex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 18,750

HWY GALE AVE

Good

Over: RR CSX

0.3 MI N OF US 20 152.32, Berkshire, MA

Built 1909 Load: 45.5 t ADT: 1,600

HWY DEAN ST

Good

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

0.5M SE OF JCT RTS8&116, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 360

HWY WASHNGTON RD

Good

Over: WATER BOTTLE BROOK

1.4 MI N OF RT 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 50

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: WATER SESUIT CREEK

.3 MILES FROM JCT ST 6A, Barnstable, MA

Built 2008 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 2,069

ST123 CENTER ST

Good

Over: WATER TROUT BROOK

AT JCT PLYMOUTH ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1901 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 14,224

Showing 4,201-4,250 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.