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 391

Fair

Over: COMB CHIC R/STS & RLF

1.1 TO 1.5 M N SPFLD C.L., Hampden, MA

Built 1981 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 48,014

HWY MAXAM RD

Fair

Over: WATER W BR NORTH RIVER

@ ADAMSVILLE RD INT., Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 259

HWY WHITE LN

Fair

Over: WATER W BR NORTH RIVER

W OF ADMSVL RD NR HLLMN, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 259

HWY BRANDON RD

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.1 MILE EAST OF CHASE AVE, Worcester, MA

Built 1925 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,875

HWY MALBONE ST

Fair

Over: WATER CEDAR SWAMP RIVER

.5 MI SW OF PIERCE ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1959 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,068

ST 18

Fair

Over: HWY LOGAN ST

.1 MI S OF I 195, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 90,259

HWY GILBERT RD

Fair

Over: WATER MANHAN RIVER

1MI W OF RT10 NR WSTFLD, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 893

I 190 NB

Fair

Over: RR CSX

0.1 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 20,575

ST117 GREAT RD

Fair

Over: WATER ELIZABETH BROOK

100 FT. EAST OF HUDSON RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1952 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 12,844

US 1 SB/BS U11-32

Fair

Over: US 1 NB/BOS LOWR B11-32

BOS APPR UP, Suffolk, MA

Built 1950 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 33,373

ST123 BELMONT ST

Fair

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

W OF WARR AVE JCT, Plymouth, MA

Built 1850 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 18,879

HWY PARKER ST

Fair

Over: ST 9 BOYLSTON ST

2.1 MI. EAST RTE. 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1932 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 20,302

HWY OAK ST

Fair

Over: I 90

AT I-90 MM 110.2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,200

HWY OLD WSTBORO

Fair

Over: I 90

I-90 MM 100.0, Worcester, MA

Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,400

HWY POND BRIDGE

Fair

Over: WATER HOLLAND POND OTLT

0.25 M E OF BRIMFIELD RD, Hampden, MA

Built 1934 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 60

ST 57 SANDISFLD RD

Fair

Over: WATER BUCK RIVER

.2 MI NW OF TOWN HILL RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 681

I 95 /ST128

Fair

Over: ST129 WB MAIN ST

RT 128 AT RT 129 WB, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 96,021

HWY BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: WATER WEST-NORTH BAY

2.1 MI S OF RT 28, Barnstable, MA

Built 1946 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,692

US 5 /ST10/GRNFLD

Fair

Over: WATER DEERFIELD RIVER

AT JCT RIVER RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1932 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 17,850

HWY NEWHALL ST

Fair

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

.16 KM E. OF RT. 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,300

ST 2

Fair

Over: HWY LAKE MATTAWA RD

MM 68.2 ON ST 2, Franklin, MA

Built 1956 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 8,922

HWY BLANDF STAGE

Fair

Over: WATER STAGE BROOK

@ INT. W/ UPPER MOSS HILL, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 517

ST106 W CENTER ST

Fair

Over: ST 24

.75 MI SO OF WEST ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1954 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 17,143

I 495 SB

Fair

Over: HWY S BOLTON RD

1.75 MI S OF ST-117, Worcester, MA

Built 1963 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 44,096

ST 2 WB

Fair

Over: HWY PEARSON BLVD NB

.5 MI. E. OF ST-68, Worcester, MA

Built 1961 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 22,179

US 7 FIRST ST

Fair

Over: RR CSX

S OF MELVLLE ST 150.09, Berkshire, MA

Built 1900 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 29,800

HWY FIELD ST

Fair

Over: WATER SNAKE RIVER

1 MI W OF RAYNHAM, Bristol, MA

Built 1943 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 6,465

HWY NEWTON ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.16 KM SOUTH JCT RT 20, Middlesex, MA

Built 1930 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 8,400

ST 9 WILLIAMS ST

Fair

Over: WATER W BR MILL RIVER

@ INT. W/ BUTTONSHOP RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1971 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 8,250

US 6 EB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: HWY UNION ST

2.3 M E OF WILLOW ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1970 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 38,017

US 5

Fair

Over: ST 57 E TRAFFIC CIR

.25 MI SE OF WESTFIELD RV, Hampden, MA

Built 1953 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 36,983

ST135 UNION ST

Fair

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

2.5 MI W OF 126 & 135, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 11,481

HWY LINDEN ST

Fair

Over: WATER NORTH BROOK

.4 MI. W. OF ST-62, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,129

I 495 NB

Fair

Over: HWY S BOLTON RD

1.75 MI S OF ST-117, Worcester, MA

Built 1963 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 45,106

ST143 MAIN RD

Fair

Over: WATER WEBSTER BROOK

@ CURTIS RD INTERSECTION, Hampshire, MA

Built 1931 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 2,198

HWY FORT HILL RD

Fair

Over: WATER MANHAN RIVER

0.4 MI N OF EAST STREET, Hampshire, MA

Built 1964 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 905

ST 30 PLEASANT ST

Fair

Over: I 90

I-90 MM 113.2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1957 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 8,000

HWY PALMER RD

Fair

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

JUST W OF RTE 181, Hampden, MA

Built 1957 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 4,500

US 6 WB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: HWY UNION ST

2.3 M E OF WILLOW ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1954 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 17,211

ST 2

Fair

Over: RR BMRR

1.25 MI W. OF ST 110 &111, Worcester, MA

Built 1951 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 57,765

ST110 JACKSON ST

Fair

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.64 KM N LAWRENCE CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1939 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 7,200

ST113 STOREY AVE

Fair

Over: WATER ARTICHOKE RIVER

1 MI W I95, Essex, MA

Built 1972 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 12,300

HWY DUDLEY RD

Fair

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.5 MI SW OF CHARLTON ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1953 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 6,100

ST 3 A/SB WARREN

Fair

Over: HWY PLIMOTH PLNTN HWY

3.5 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1950 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 10,184

HWY VINTON ST

Fair

Over: WATER CADY BROOK

300 FEET EAST OF ST 169, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 900

I 190 SB & RAMP C

Fair

Over: RR CSX

.1 MI N OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 19,688

ST 58 COUNTY RD

Fair

Over: I 495

.4 M N OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1964 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 20,301

ST135 MILK ST

Fair

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

1 MI S OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 11,236

US 7 STOCKBRIDGE

Fair

Over: WATER TOM PALMER BROOK

AT ST.PETERS/ELMWOOD CEM., Berkshire, MA

Built 1953 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 11,448

US 6 WB/MD CP HWY

Fair

Over: HWY MARY DUNN RD

1.25 M W OF WILLOW ST, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 32,500

Showing 401-450 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.