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

ST183 PARK ST

Good

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

AT INT. W WAUBECK STREET, Berkshire, MA

Built 1969 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 2,600

HWY NASHS MLL RD

Good

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

0.1 MI W OF LEYDEN RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 5,560

ST 3 NB PLGM HWY

Good

Over: ST123 WEBSTER ST

.2 MI S OF NORWELL TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 33,655

ST 3 SB PLGM HWY

Good

Over: ST123 WEBSTER ST

.2 MI S OF NORWELL TL, Plymouth, MA

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 31,618

ST 31 WACHUSETT ST

Good

Over: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER

.3 MI S OF MANNING ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2016 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 7,600

HWY MECHANIC ST

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

500 FT W OF I-190, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 6,185

I 495 NB

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.5 MI NE RT 2, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 47,280

HWY PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

500 FT S OF MYRTLE ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 2012 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 4,000

ST 3 NB PLGM HWY

Good

Over: HWY HIGH ST

1 MI N OF JCT RTE 53 & 3, Plymouth, MA

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 69,698

ST 3 SB PLGM HWY

Good

Over: HWY HIGH ST

1 MI N OF JCT RTE 53 & 3, Plymouth, MA

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 31,618

ST 2

Good

Over: ST122 S MAIN ST

MM 69.7 ON ST 2, Franklin, MA

Built 1955 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 9,117

HWY N LOOMIS ST

Good

Over: WATER SHURTLEFF BROOK

0.9 MI N ST 57, Hampden, MA

Built 2018 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 1,085

HWY BAY ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

BAY STREET AT SABBATIA LA, Bristol, MA

Built 2013 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 15,500

HWY DOANE RD

Good

Over: WATER FLAT BROOK

250 E OF JCT. W/RTE. 9, Hampshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 100

HWY SUMMIT HILL

Good

Over: RR CSX

@UPPER VALLEY RD RR137.36, Berkshire, MA

Built 1910 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 387

ST146 SB ON RAMP

Good

Over: ST146

.1 MI NORTH OF ST-146, Worcester, MA

Built 2005 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 23,124

ST 3 NB

Good

Over: US 6

@ CAPE COD CANAL, Barnstable, MA

Built 2006 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 49,784

US 44 WINTHROP ST

Good

Over: WATER THREE MILE RIVER

.1 MI NE OF NO WALKER ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1954 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 14,186

HWY HAYES HLL RD

Good

Over: WATER KONKAPOT RIVER

@ GRT BRRNGTN MILL RVR RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 388

HWY HOLLOWAY ST

Good

Over: ST140 NB

.9 MI NW OF LAKEVILLE TL, Bristol, MA

Built 1959 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 1,163

HWY COUNTY ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

AMTRAK MM 192.47, Bristol, MA

Built 2011 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 14,300

HWY S RIVER RD

Good

Over: WATER BOZRAH BROOK

800E OF INT. W/ ROUTE 8A, Franklin, MA

Built 2005 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 1,080

HWY COTTAGE ST

Good

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

.1 MI S OF RTE 9, Worcester, MA

Built 1993 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 1,825

ST146 NB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: OTHER BIKEWAY

I290 NB ON RAMP, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 14,769

US 5 NORTH ST

Good

Over: WATER MANHAN RIV OXBOW

.1 M N JCT EAST ST., Hampshire, MA

Built 2004 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 18,362

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER QUINAPOXET RIVER

.2 MI EAST OF ST-31, Worcester, MA

Built 2004 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 700

HWY MYRTLE ST

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.3 MI. W. OF PLEASANT ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 1996 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 1,850

HWY REVERE ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

1.3 KM N JCT SR1A&60, Suffolk, MA

Built 2008 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 11,000

HWY SMITH RD

Good

Over: WATER M BR WESTFIELD RIV

AT JCT. W/ E. RIVER ROAD, Hampden, MA

Built 2009 Load: 52.3 t ADT: 129

HWY MOULTON ST

Good

Over: WATER MILES RIVER

.4K E. OF ST 1A, Essex, MA

Built 2000 Load: 52.3 t ADT: 1,293

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: WATER NASHUA RIVER

.2 MI. WEST OF ST. 110, Worcester, MA

Built 1996 Load: 52.3 t ADT: 2,740

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

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

Built 2006 Load: 52.4 t ADT: 5,599

HWY LOVERS LANE

Good

Over: WATER SHAKERMILL BROOK

300 FT N BROOKER HILL RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 52.5 t ADT: 129

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

ADJACENT TO ALLEN ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1997 Load: 52.5 t ADT: 14,095

HWY UPR CNTY BRI

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

AT WSHGTN &RIVER STS, Essex, MA

Built 1906 Load: 52.5 t ADT: 10,665

HWY CANAL STREET

Good

Over: WATER MERRIMACK CANAL

0.8 KM. W. OF RT. 3A, Middlesex, MA

Built 1986 Load: 52.5 t ADT: 1,250

I 93 RAMP N-S

Good

Over: I 93 RAMP LC-S TUNNEL

LEVERETT CIR-UNIT 1, Suffolk, MA

Built 1999 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 34,304

HWY NEWLAND ST

Good

Over: WATER CANOE RIVER

.2 MI W OF RTE 123, Bristol, MA

Built 1962 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 4,571

HWY ALLEN ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

AT CORNER OF HUDSON ST., Worcester, MA

Built 1986 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 4,525

HWY SEAVIEW AVE

Good

Over: WATER SENGEKONTACKET INL

1 MI. N. OF EDGARTOWN T, Dukes, MA

Built 2011 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 5,786

ST 3 SB

Good

Over: US 6

@ CAPE COD CANAL, Barnstable, MA

Built 2006 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 16,818

HWY TYRINGHAM RD

Good

Over: WATER GOOSE POND BROOK

JUST S OF RTE 102, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 1,429

HWY N POLAND RD

Good

Over: WATER POLAND BROOK

.65 MI S OF RT116, Franklin, MA

Built 2012 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 259

HWY HUNGERFORD

Good

Over: WATER SW BR HOUSATONIC R

130N/LEBANON AVE S/RTE20, Berkshire, MA

Built 1947 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 429

HWY BOWDOIN ST

Good

Over: WATER RAWSON HILL BROOK

500 FT N OF RESERVOIR ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1990 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 300

HWY MAIN AVE

Good

Over: WATER EAST RIVER

.7 MI SW OF RTE 6, Plymouth, MA

Built 2005 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 6,595

HWY CLARK ST

Good

Over: RR MACRR

.1 MI W OF N. MAIN ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1903 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 143

HWY OAK BLFFS RD

Good

Over: WATER SENGEKONTACKET INL

EDGARTOWN/OAK BLUFFS TL, Dukes, MA

Built 2011 Load: 53.3 t ADT: 6,214

US 3 NB

Good

Over: HWY WESTFORD RD

1.6 MI S OF ST-113, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 53.4 t ADT: 50,100

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

AT RR STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 2008 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 205,138

Showing 4,451-4,500 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.