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 93 RAMPS NS SN

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93 RAMPS N-S S-N, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 47.4 t ADT: 20,161

HWY WHEELER RD

Good

Over: WATER WILLARD BROOK

AT CORNER OF RT.119, Middlesex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 47.4 t ADT: 2,597

HWY MORRSSEY BLV

Good

Over: HWY MT VERNON ST

.16 KM W OF I 93, Suffolk, MA

Built 1925 Load: 47.5 t ADT: 41,500

HWY HERBERT ST

Good

Over: WATER BEAVER DAM BROOK

AT CORNER OF TRIPP ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 47.5 t ADT: 8,300

ST 2 A/STATE RD E

Good

Over: WATER WHITMAN RIVER

.25 MI W. OF FITCHBURG TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 47.5 t ADT: 7,103

US202 GLENALLAN ST

Good

Over: WATER N BR MILLERS RIVER

JCT OF ELMWOOD RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2008 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 9,310

HWY BABSON ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

1.2 KM NE OFJCTSR28&SR138, Suffolk, MA

Built 1901 Load: 47.7 t ADT: 10,474

HWY PAGE RD

Good

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

.1MI E OF RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 9,900

HWY WEST ST

Good

Over: WATER FARM RIVER

1.6 KM WEST OF ST 37, Norfolk, MA

Built 1998 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 11,600

ST 66 WESTHMPTN RD

Good

Over: WATER N BR MANHAN RIVER

AT JCT LOUDVILLE RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 2003 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 4,525

HWY GIBBS RD

Good

Over: WATER DIMMOCK BROOK

.7 MI NORTH OF RTE 23, Berkshire, MA

Built 2008 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 129

HWY MERIAM ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

JUST OFF MAIN ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2001 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 1,422

ST112 ASHFIELD RD

Good

Over: WATER CLESSON BROOK

.2M N UPPER ST JCT, Franklin, MA

Built 2006 Load: 48.2 t ADT: 2,330

HWY UPPER ST

Good

Over: WATER CLESSON BROOK

500NW OF JCT W/ROUTE 112, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 48.2 t ADT: 120

HWY ELM ST

Good

Over: WATER MUDDY COVE BROOK

.2 MI S OF MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 48.2 t ADT: 2,457

HWY ACCES BRG A

Good

Over: I 93 RAMPS CC & D

.15 K W OF I93@SO.STA CON, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 129

HWY BOSTON ST

Good

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

AT PEABODY LINE, Essex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 16,200

I 93 RAMP N-S

Good

Over: COMB MGH PKNG & MBTA

LEVERETT CIR-UNIT 2, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 51,982

I 90 EB

Good

Over: HWY WEST ST

MM 52.8 ON I-90 EB, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 54,569

HWY BROOKS PD RD

Good

Over: WATER FIVE MILE RIVER

200 FT. E. N. BRKFLD T.L., Worcester, MA

Built 2012 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 700

ST 2 WB

Good

Over: ST 68 NB/TIMPANY BLVD

.5 MI.EST.OF ST-2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 18,730

ST 2 EB

Good

Over: ST 68 NB/TIMPANY BLVD

.5 MI. EAST OF ST-2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 18,730

ST 2 WB

Good

Over: ST 68 SB/TIMPANY BLVD

1.5 MI E OF TEMPLETON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 18,730

ST 2 EB

Good

Over: ST 68 SB/TIMPANY BLVD

1.5 MI W OF TEMPLETON TL, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 18,730

HWY SLOCUM ST

Good

Over: WATER ACUSHNET RIVER

200 FT E OF RIV RD N BEDF, Bristol, MA

Built 2002 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 6,846

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

30 M W. OF THORN ST, Suffolk, MA

Built 2012 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 13,319

US 1 RAMP TC

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 60,300

HWY SO STA IB RP

Good

Over: RR MBTA

SOUTH STATION, Suffolk, MA

Built 1995 Load: 48.6 t

HWY WHITE AVE

Good

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

.1 MI EAST OF MAIN STREET, Plymouth, MA

Built 2012 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 2,845

US 44

Good

Over: WATER WINNETUXET RIVER

1.2 MI E OF MIDDLEBORO TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2004 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 22,571

HWY MIDDLEFLD RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

1.5 MI N OF US 20 127.22, Hampden, MA

Built 1987 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 1,400

I 195

Good

Over: HWY RIVER AVE

.2 M E OF NEW BEDFORD, Bristol, MA

Built 1972 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 57,285

HWY RAMP E

Good

Over: HWY POCASSET ST

RT79/RT138 TO I-195EB, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 9,400

HWY DANFORTH ST

Good

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.1 MI. E. OF CONCORD ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 1982 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 1,000

ST 8 WASHINGTON

Good

Over: RR CSX

@MICHAELS RD 140.85, Berkshire, MA

Built 2012 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 2,715

HWY BROAD ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

100 FT S OF WATER ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 11,600

HWY MINER RD

Good

Over: WATER TOWN BROOK

750 W. OF INT W/ ROUTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 2012 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 129

I 495 NB/ST 2 CD

Good

Over: ST 2

2 MI.NTH.OF ST.111, Middlesex, MA

Built 2015 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 22,628

HWY CHESTER RD

Good

Over: WATER SMART BROOK

1000 S OF ALDERMAN RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 359

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Good

Over: HWY CENTRAL AVE

.5 MI SE OF ST 9, Norfolk, MA

Built 1953 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 79,708

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Good

Over: HWY CENTRAL AVE

.5 MI SE OF ST 9, Norfolk, MA

Built 1953 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 78,093

HWY LMBRT CRS RD

Good

Over: WATER UMPACHENE RIVER

750 E. OF INT W/ HADSELL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 517

HWY HADSELL ST

Good

Over: WATER UMPACHENE RIVER

@ UMPACHENE FALLS RD INT, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 258

HWY KENNEDY RD

Good

Over: WATER ROBERTS MEADOW BRK

1MI E OF WSTHMPTN, Hampshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 1,500

ST122 PROVDENCE RD

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

ST 122/BLACKSTONE RIVER, Worcester, MA

Built 2013 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 5,800

HWY CHURCH ST

Good

Over: RR PWRR

.3 MILES EAST OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 14,986

HWY BEACH RD

Good

Over: WATER LAGOON POND

@BEACH RD/LAGOON POND, Dukes, MA

Built 2016 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 24,500

HWY RESERVOIR RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR FARMINGTON R

AT ROUTE 8 INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 1,034

HWY LAKEWAY DR

Good

Over: WATER ONOTA LAKE

500 S PECKS ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2020 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 388

I 95 /ST128

Good

Over: ST 9 WORCESTER ST

RT 128 AT RT 9, Norfolk, MA

Built 2018 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 165,174

Showing 4,301-4,350 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.