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 ADAMS ST

Good

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

JUST S OF ELM BY MOBIL, Norfolk, MA

Built 1886 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 6,200

HWY CHASE RD

Good

Over: US 6 WB MID CAPE HWY

.6 M W OF BARNSTABLE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1950 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 4,429

HWY CHASE RD

Good

Over: US 6 EB MID CAPE HWY

.6 M W OF BARNSTABLE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 4,429

ST140 SUMMER ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.4 MI SE OF DEAN ST US 44, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 50.7 t ADT: 15,776

US 3 SB

Good

Over: RR BMRR

1.25 MI NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 50,638

HWY MCNERNEY RD

Good

Over: WATER SHAKER MILL BROOK

300N OF BROOKER HILL RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 1,552

HWY CLARK RD

Good

Over: WATER KINDERHOOK CREEK

.25 MI E OF RT. 43, Berkshire, MA

Built 1997 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 129

ST122 A

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.6 MI EAST OF ST 146, Worcester, MA

Built 2011 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 7,334

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI. S. OF ST-122, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 50.9 t ADT: 4,999

ST 9

Good

Over: WATER SWIFT RIVER

.3 M W JCT RIVER RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 2007 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 6,315

ST 9 /ST30/WRCSTR

Good

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.25 MI W OF PROSPECT ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 52,165

ST 15 HAYNES ST

Good

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

.25 MI N OF RIVER RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 1,400

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: RR GWRR

300 E JCT US 202, Worcester, MA

Built 2005 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 4,784

US 3 SB

Good

Over: HWY MAIN ST

2 MI. NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 51.1 t ADT: 51,000

HWY CHERRY ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.5 M W OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1957 Load: 51.1 t ADT: 2,198

HWY SCHOOL ST

Good

Over: COMB KYAN ST & BMRR

0.40 KM S SCHOOL & BRDWAY, Middlesex, MA

Built 1995 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 18,491

HWY HOLTSHIRE RD

Good

Over: ST 2

1 MILE EAST OF WENDELL TL, Franklin, MA

Built 2011 Load: 51.2 t ADT: 3,900

I 495

Good

Over: WATER FISH BROOK

.48 KM S I93, Essex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 51.3 t ADT: 120,800

US 7 S MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

0.2 MI N OF SHEFFIELD TL, Berkshire, MA

Built 2002 Load: 51.3 t ADT: 7,942

ST149 MTNG HSE WAY

Good

Over: US 6 EB/MID CAPE HWY

1.75 M E OF SNDWCH TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 51.4 t ADT: 18,362

HWY FOX RD

Good

Over: WATER N BR MILL RIVER

AT NBR MILL RIVER, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 51.4 t ADT: 2,715

HWY LAKESHORE DR

Good

Over: WATER WATATIC LAKE INLET

1 MI. NORTH OF LAKE ROAD, Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 130

HWY WATER ST

Good

Over: WATER TEN MILE RIVER

0.1 KM FROM WEST ST., Bristol, MA

Built 2002 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 2,143

US 1 RAMP CT

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2001 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 27,143

HWY RIVERLIN ST

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

JUST N OF RTE 122A, Worcester, MA

Built 2004 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 3,295

HWY KONKAPOT RD

Good

Over: WATER KONKAPOT RIVER

800 S OF CLAYTON MILL RI, Berkshire, MA

Built 1996 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 388

US 44 CAPE HWY

Good

Over: WATER FORGE RIVER

.3 MI E OF TAUNTON C.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1932 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 24,357

HWY CREST RD

Good

Over: RR CSX/MBTA

.16 KM NWLY RT 16, Norfolk, MA

Built 1895 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 7,759

HWY OLD BOSTN RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

AT INT WITH RT 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1850 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 9,000

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

MM QNF 11, Bristol, MA

Built 1904 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 5,948

HWY W ELM ST

Good

Over: WATER INDIAN HEAD RIVER

O.5 MI SOUTH OF BROADWAY, Plymouth, MA

Built 1894 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 9,568

ST 10 COLLEGE HWY

Good

Over: WATER MANHAN RIVER

3.4 M S SOUTHHAMPTON T.L., Hampshire, MA

Built 2005 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 13,319

HWY BULLARD ST

Good

Over: WATER WILLETT POND OTLT

JCT W OF RTE 1A, Norfolk, MA

Built 1911 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 3,429

HWY UPPER PERRVL

Good

Over: WATER CANAL

E. OF RT 12 AT CT. BORDER, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 216

HWY SARGEANT ST

Good

Over: WATER FIRST LEVEL CANAL

.4 MI NW OF 3RD CANAL, Hampden, MA

Built 1909 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 6,724

ST 32 /ST122/BARRE

Good

Over: WATER E BR SWIFT RIVER

ST 32 / SWIFT RIVER, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 2,844

HWY ALFORD RD

Good

Over: WATER SEEKONK BROOK

.8 MI N OF DIVISION ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 1,071

HWY PEARL ST

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

AT CORNER OF PLAIN ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 2007 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 4,150

HWY PADELFORD ST

Good

Over: ST 24

E OF PINE ST, Bristol, MA

Built 2014 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 8,000

I 93 RAMP SN

Good

Over: US 1 RAMP TC & LC

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 38,009

I 93 RAMP X

Good

Over: I 90 & RAMP CC

I93/I90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 1,939

I 93 RAMP X

Good

Over: COMB RELIEF

I93/I90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 2,066

I 93 RAMP K

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I-93/I-90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2004 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 8,793

ST116 SPRNGFLD ST

Good

Over: WATER CHICOPEE RIVER

AT INT OF GRANBY RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1931 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 33,164

HWY MCCLELLN FRM

Good

Over: RR GWRR

AT JCT RIVER RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2020 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 340

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: WATER QUESET BROOK

0.1 M WEST OF RTE. 138, Bristol, MA

Built 2008 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 14,500

ST 16 REV BCH PKWY

Good

Over: WATER MALDEN RIVER

.2 MI W OF SANTILLI CIR, Middlesex, MA

Built 2018 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 68,300

HWY HERMAN ST

Good

Over: ST 79

1.4 MI S OF ST 24, Bristol, MA

Built 1958 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 4,300

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

.1 MI W OF CONCORD ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1920 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 8,000

ST140

Good

Over: RR BMRR

.5 MI N OF BETTY SPRNG RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1980 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 11,416

Showing 4,401-4,450 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.