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

I 95 /ST128

Good

Over: HWY UNIVERSITY AVE

JUST NORTH OF RR STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 2008 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 201,078

HWY ELM ST

Good

Over: WATER SEGREGANSET RIVER

.5 MI N OF MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1956 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 1,000

HWY CROSS ST

Good

Over: WATER MULPUS BROOK

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

Built 1997 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 300

ST 9 WORCESTER ST

Good

Over: WATER LAKE COCHITUATE

0.6 MI W OF JCT RTE 9 &27, Middlesex, MA

Built 2007 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 52,165

HWY HICK RDGE RD

Good

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

N OF RT116 1M E OF ASHFLD, Franklin, MA

Built 1999 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 129

ST 2

Good

Over: WATER COLD RIVER

AT FL. SAVOY TOWN LINE, Berkshire, MA

Built 1955 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 1,667

HWY DRURY LN

Good

Over: WATER N BR MANHAN RIVER

1MI S OF RT66 BY WHMPTN, Hampshire, MA

Built 1998 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 259

HWY COCHTUATE ST

Good

Over: OTHER COCHITUATE RAIL TR

0.2 MI.WST.OF ST.27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1896 Load: 45.9 t ADT: 1,300

I 90 RAMP Q & ALB

Good

Over: I 90 RAMP H

0.3 KM NORTH OF I 90, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 11,250

HWY ACCESS BRG B

Good

Over: I 93 RAMP KK

.15K W OF I93NB@S.STA CON, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 600

HWY MAXWELL RD

Good

Over: WATER MAXWELL BROOK

0.8MI N OF INT W/ROUTE 8A, Franklin, MA

Built 2001 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 129

HWY LEON HERZIG

Good

Over: WATER W BR NORTH RIVER

@ ADAMSVILLE RD INT., Franklin, MA

Built 1989 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 129

ST123 /ST138/WSHNG

Good

Over: WATER QUESET BROOK

.1 MI NW OF DEPOT ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1988 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 16,292

HWY PALMER AVE

Good

Over: RR BIKE PATH PREV RR

.05M FROM RTE 28, Barnstable, MA

Built 1991 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 1,786

HWY OLD PLEASANT

Good

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

0.1 MI W OF ST 102, Berkshire, MA

Built 2011 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 1,200

HWY CRANE ST

Good

Over: WATER THREE MILE RIVER

.2 MI N OF OLD TAUNTON RD, Bristol, MA

Built 2001 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 1,552

I 93 /US1/ST3

Good

Over: HWY WEST ST

1 MI N OF JCT I93&128, Norfolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 203,932

HWY SCOTLAND ST

Good

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

.1 MI N OF BRIDGEWATER, Plymouth, MA

Built 2009 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 5,043

ST 9 POST RD

Good

Over: WATER DUNN BROOK

AT BROOKFIELD TOWN LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 7,305

MIDDLE ROAD

Good

Over: PRIEST BROOK

16.09 KM N OF GARDNER, Worcester, MA

Built 1910 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2

HWY RIVER RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.08 M S WLLMSBRG TOWN-LIN, Hampshire, MA

Built 2012 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,571

I 93 RAMP SN

Good

Over: US 1 RAMP CT

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 32,800

ST 24

Good

Over: HWY BEDFORD ST

1.0 MI N OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1955 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 37,000

HWY PUDNG HLW RD

Good

Over: WATER CHICKLEY RIVER

AT RT 8A 1.3M S. OF CHLMN, Franklin, MA

Built 2005 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 240

HWY HAMPSHIRE ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

0.3 MI N OF ST-110, Essex, MA

Built 2010 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 7,700

HWY BENNINGTN ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.32 KM WEST ST 110, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 6,500

US 20 BOSTN PST RD

Good

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.75 MI. W. OF ST-27, Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 15,800

ST 1 A/NEWPRT AV

Good

Over: COMB RR AMTRAK/MBTA RD

.2 MI SO I 95 INTERCHANGE, Bristol, MA

Built 2011 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 34,933

HWY EAST HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER EAST BROOK

0.3 M N OF JCT RT 20&19, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 1,034

ST 2

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

AT HIGH ST. & TOWN GARAGE, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 4,555

HWY WATER ST

Good

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

.25 MI W OF BOLTON T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 7,877

HWY CENTER ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

MBTA MP 34/396, Plymouth, MA

Built 1899 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 3,857

HWY PRISN CMP RD

Good

Over: WATER E BR WARE RIVER

1.5 MI NOTH INTERVALE RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 130

HWY GAVINS PND R

Good

Over: WATER BILLINGS BROOK

.1 MI W OF FURNACE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1988 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 1,552

US 6

Good

Over: ST138 RIVERSIDE AVE

WEST OF TAUNTON RIVER, Bristol, MA

Built 2011 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 50,690

HWY AMER LEG HWY

Good

Over: ST203 MORTON ST

5.3 KM W OF RT 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 2012 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 38,100

HWY ACCESS RD

Good

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

NATIONAL AV 0.5 KM SOUTH, Essex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 1,900

ST 97 /ST113/LNCLN

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT MERRIMAC RIVER, Essex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 17,246

ST115 NORFOLK RD

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

400 FT S OF BALTIMORE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 2011 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 7,014

US 1 RAMP CT

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 46.8 t ADT: 42,552

HWY W NEWTON ST

Good

Over: TR ORANGE LINE

BOSTON, Suffolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 24,209

ST 18 BEDFORD ST

Good

Over: WATER TAUNTON RIVER

0.5 M. N. OF PLYMOUTH ST., Plymouth, MA

Built 2007 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 9,828

ST106 EAST ST

Good

Over: WATER CANOE RIVER

0.1 MI. W. OF FRANKLIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 2007 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 34,400

ST 62 HBBRDSTN RD

Good

Over: WATER E BR WARE RIVER

1 MI E OF ST 68, Worcester, MA

Built 2009 Load: 46.9 t ADT: 1,068

HWY COLE AVE

Good

Over: RR PARR

AT INT N. HOOSAC/RR427.11, Berkshire, MA

Built 2005 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 3,786

HWY PAUL CLANCY

Good

Over: WATER MIDDLE RIVER

JUST SW OF PED OVER 146, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 300

HWY KINGS BRIDG

Good

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

1MI S OF JCT I90&RT67, Hampden, MA

Built 2012 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 1,000

HWY CONWAY RD

Good

Over: WATER WEST BROOK

1ST BR. FROM HAYDNVLLE RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1998 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 129

HWY HARDWICK PND

Good

Over: WATER MUDDY BROOK

0.5 MI S. OF HARDWCK LINE, Hampshire, MA

Built 2007 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 517

ST 2

Good

Over: TR MNUTEMAN BP

JUST W OLD ALEWIFE ROTARY, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 47.4 t ADT: 70,300

Showing 4,251-4,300 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.