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

US 20 WESTFIELD ST

Good

Over: RR CSX

JCT CHARLES AVE., Hampden, MA

Built 2014 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 30,775

HWY WILLMSBRG RD

Good

Over: WATER WEST BROOK SPILWAY

SOUTH END NHAMP RESVOIR, Franklin, MA

Built 1993 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 260

HWY BANCROFT RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR WESTFIELD R

@ MUNN RD INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 2006 Load: 48.7 t ADT: 259

I 93 RAMP MW

Good

Over: COMB HOV EB & MBTA WYE

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

Built 2001 Load: 48.8 t ADT: 1,052

HWY DIVISION ST

Good

Over: WATER SEEKONK BROOK

AT ALFORD RD INTERSECTION, Berkshire, MA

Built 1996 Load: 48.8 t ADT: 2,845

HWY MILL ROAD

Good

Over: WATER FISH BROOK

1.1 MI W OF I-95, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 1,200

ST126 CONCORD ST

Good

Over: ST 9 WORCESTER RD

.5 MI W OF NATICK TL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1931 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 35,500

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

0.3M W JCT RTS8&143, Berkshire, MA

Built 2005 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 1,143

HWY SKNRVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

.2 MI E OF KELLOGG @RTE 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 1955 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 129

HWY DEXTER RD

Good

Over: WATER LAUNDRY BROOK

.96 KM. S. OF I-90, Middlesex, MA

Built 1898 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 1,000

HWY INGELL ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

JUST S OF ST140, Bristol, MA

Built 2000 Load: 49.1 t ADT: 6,571

HWY N MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

AT CEMETERY RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1993 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 4,400

ST117 N MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

AT CORNER OF LANGEN RD., Worcester, MA

Built 2001 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 12,689

HWY RED BRIDG RD

Good

Over: WATER N E UTILITIES CANL

0.2 MI E OF LUDLOW TL, Hampden, MA

Built 1850 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 5,043

HWY ROWE RD

Good

Over: WATER PELHAM BROOK

AT ROWE TOWN LINE, Franklin, MA

Built 2003 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 900

ST149 MTNG HSE WAY

Good

Over: US 6 WB/MID CAPE HWY

1.75 M E OF SANDWICH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1950 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 18,362

HWY DEDHAM ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

.16 KM. SE. NEPONSET R., Norfolk, MA

Built 1937 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 17,650

ST 2 A/ST110/KING

Good

Over: I 495

1.5 MI N OF RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 3,845

I 90 WB & RP1ASB

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

SEGMENT 3, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 60,129

US 1

Good

Over: HWY SPRUCE ST

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

Built 1957 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 83,976

HWY HOLDEN ST

Good

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

AT NBR HOOSIC RIVER, Berkshire, MA

Built 1976 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 3,000

US202 /ST10/UNION

Good

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

1.3 MI SOUTH OF I-90, Hampden, MA

Built 2010 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 28,241

HWY GULF RD

Good

Over: WATER SW BR APPONAGANSET

1.1 MI E OF TUCKER RD, Bristol, MA

Built 2010 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 4,247

HWY LOOMIS RD

Good

Over: WATER STONES BROOK

@ ROUTE 9 INTERSECTION, Hampshire, MA

Built 1988 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 129

ST 27 N MEADOWS RD

Good

Over: RR BCRR

1/8 MI NORTH OF WEST ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 1972 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 7,310

HWY LOWELL ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.8 KM NW OF JCT SR28&38, Middlesex, MA

Built 2006 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 6,077

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER SWIFT RIVER

200 W INT S. MAIN ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 2005 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 4,784

HWY NEMASKET ST

Good

Over: WATER NEMASKET RIVER

JUST SW OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 2004 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 4,655

HWY MORSE ST

Good

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

.1 MI W OF PLEASANT ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 2010 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 5,928

ST 9 BERKSHIRE TR

Good

Over: WATER BARTLET BROOK

400 W JCT STAGE RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 4,026

I 195

Good

Over: ST140

1/2MI N OF BUTTONWOOD PK, Bristol, MA

Built 2011 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 80,368

ST 12 SPRING ST

Good

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

.5 MI S JCT ST 140, Worcester, MA

Built 2001 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 9,107

ST116

Good

Over: WATER SWIFT RIVER

250 W JCT SPRUCE COR RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2007 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 5,819

US 1 SB RAMP

Good

Over: HWY ORANGE ST

.8 MI N OF TOBIN BR., Suffolk, MA

Built 1956 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 9,143

HWY SPRING ST

Good

Over: WATER THREE MILE RIVER

WEST OF D08020 (3JA), Bristol, MA

Built 1956 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 4,600

HWY DEPOT ST

Good

Over: RR PWRR

.3 MI. W OF ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 2,860

HWY MERRIAM AVE

Good

Over: ST 2

MM98 1.2M W OF ST12, Worcester, MA

Built 1947 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 14,790

I 93 RAMP S-N

Good

Over: RR MBTA

LEVERETT CIR-UNIT 2, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 42,672

HWY DEAN RD

Good

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 14,900

HWY WOODLAWN AVE

Good

Over: RR CSX/MBTA

.48 KM NW RTE 16, Norfolk, MA

Built 1890 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 2,300

HWY SWAMP RD

Good

Over: WATER CONE BROOK

700 N OF CONE HILL ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2002 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 2,850

ST 27 /ST62/WALTHM

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

0.1 MI E RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2013 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 12,574

HWY COMMERCE WAY

Good

Over: US 44

OFF OF CHERRY ST., Plymouth, MA

Built 2003 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 36,200

HWY WEST RD

Good

Over: WATER PECKS BROOK

AT W WEST MTN. ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1976 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 2,198

HWY THOMPSON ST

Good

Over: WATER POWWOW RIVER

1.2MI N OF RT.495, Essex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 387

I 93 RAMPS SN NS

Good

Over: RR MBTA BSG SPUR

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 38,735

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Good

Over: ST 38 WB/MAIN ST

RT 128 AT RT 38, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 83,200

ST 62 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.9 MI EAST OF RT 85, Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 7,969

HWY E RIVER RD

Good

Over: WATER GLENDALE BROOK

AT CLARK WRIGHT RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1990 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 259

HWY STOCKBDGE RD

Good

Over: RR MBTA

MBTA MP 27/665, Plymouth, MA

Built 2005 Load: 50.6 t ADT: 6,200

Showing 4,351-4,400 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.