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

ST123 W MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

IN CHARTLEY, Bristol, MA

Built 1999 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 17,800

HWY QUKR MTNG HS

Good

Over: US 6 WB MID CAPE HWY

2.7 M W OF BARNSTABLE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1950 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 12,000

HWY QUKR MTNG HS

Good

Over: US 6 EB MID CAPE HWY

2.7 M W OF BARNSTABLE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1953 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 12,000

HWY BELDEN ST

Good

Over: WATER HEMLOCK BROOK

0.1M NORTH OF MAIN ST., Berkshire, MA

Built 1992 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 388

ST 32 S BARRE RD

Good

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

300 N OF JCT MAIN ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 53.6 t ADT: 1,224

HWY ACCESS RD

Good

Over: WATER NORTH CANAL

1.6 KM FROM N ANDOVER, Essex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 259

I 93 RAMP LC-N

Good

Over: HWY NASHUA ST

LEVERETT CIRCLE BOSTON, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 17,100

HWY IPSWICH ST

Good

Over: WATER MUDDY RIVER

NEXT TO MASS PIKE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1898 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 10,862

US 1 NE XWAY

Good

Over: HWY ORANGE & CARTER ST

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

Built 1956 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 137,500

HWY MILL RIV RD

Good

Over: WATER KONKAPOT RIVER

@ HRTSVLLE MLL RVR RD INT, Berkshire, MA

Built 2008 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 800

HWY CATACNEMG RD

Good

Over: WATER CATACUNEMAUG BROOK

.8 M. N. OF LEOMINSTER RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2002 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 520

HWY CHAPIN RD

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.2 MI S OF RIVER ROAD, Middlesex, MA

Built 1997 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 3,600

HWY SPRAGUE ST

Good

Over: COMB MBTA & ACCESS RD

.40 KM E. OF WOLCOTT SQ., Suffolk, MA

Built 1899 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 13,700

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

AT RR STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 2008 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 169,809

ST 27 N MAIN ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.2 MI. N. OF RT-135, Middlesex, MA

Built 1895 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 23,000

HWY TACONIC HS E

Good

Over: WATER UNNAMED WETLANDS

@ VALENTINE RD INT, Berkshire, MA

Built 2017 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 129

HWY HIGH ST HILL

Good

Over: WATER WESTFIELD BROOK

250N OLD RT9/.33MI S RT9, Berkshire, MA

Built 2010 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 129

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Good

Over: ST135 WEST ST

I 95 AT ST 135, Norfolk, MA

Built 2014 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 70,136

I 91 SB

Good

Over: HWY EAST ST

MM 21.0 ON I-91 SB, Hampshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 27,526

I 91 NB

Good

Over: HWY EAST ST

MM 21.0 ON I-91 SB, Hampshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 27,714

ST 57 MAIN RD

Good

Over: WATER HUBBARDS RIVER

AT TOLLAND TOWN LINE, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 1,034

ST146 SB

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI W OF ST-122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1998 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 21,065

ST146 NB

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

.1 MI. W. OF ST 122A, Worcester, MA

Built 1998 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 21,806

ST146 SB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

AT EXIT 17 146SB, Worcester, MA

Built 1998 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 52,912

US 3 NB

Good

Over: RR BMRR

1.25 MI NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 49,476

ST 18 BEDFORD ST

Good

Over: WATER MATFIELD RIVER

0.1 M S OF RTE 106, Plymouth, MA

Built 1880 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 20,330

ST 1 A/HIGH ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA

1.1 MI N IPSWICH CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 25,200

HWY SEA ST

Good

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

MARSHFIELD-SCITUATE LINE, Plymouth, MA

Built 2010 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 4,009

HWY HIGH PLN RD

Good

Over: I 93

.3 MILES S.OF I495, Essex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 3,232

ST 24

Good

Over: ST 79 S MAIN ST

ST 24 AT ST 79 (ASSONET), Bristol, MA

Built 1951 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 42,505

ST 31 NEW SPNCR RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

100FT S. OF OLD SPENCER R, Worcester, MA

Built 1954 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 2,805

HWY ADAMSVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER TISSDELL BROOK

50 N OF HILLMAN ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 2019 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 600

US 1 PROVDNCE HWY

Good

Over: I 95 /ST 128

AT US1 AND I95, Norfolk, MA

Built 2009 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 102,400

HWY RAMP A

Good

Over: HWY POCASSET ST

I-195EB TO RT-79/RT-138, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 4,655

I 495 NB

Good

Over: ST 2

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

Built 2015 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 53,214

I 495 SB

Good

Over: ST 2

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

Built 2015 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 40,908

ST 62 PARK ST

Good

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

0.3 MI E OF HAVERHILL ST, Middlesex, MA

Built 1903 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 9,698

HWY HOLTSHIRE RD

Good

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

BTW RTS2&2A NEAR WENDELL, Franklin, MA

Built 2021 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,100

ST 7 A/ASHLEY FLS

Good

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

@ W. STAHL RD INTER., Berkshire, MA

Built 2020 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 423

HWY WENDELL RD

Good

Over: WATER MOSS BROOK

1.1 MI N OF RTE 2A, Franklin, MA

Built 1986 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 256

HWY WENDELL DPT

Good

Over: WATER WHETSTONE BROOK

NE OF OLD COUNTRY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2018 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 517

HWY RECREATN RD

Good

Over: I 95 /ST128

0.8 KM S MASS PIKE, Middlesex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 7,760

HWY HAYDNVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER WEST BROOK

0.3 MI W OF MASTERSON RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2011 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,500

HWY ADAMS RD

Good

Over: WATER KINNE BROOK

.3 MI W. OF KINNE BRK RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 2019 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 129

ST 2

Good

Over: HWY WHITE POND RD

MM 71.7 ON ST 2, Worcester, MA

Built 1954 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 12,802

HWY TURNER HILL

Good

Over: WATER DUNBAR BROOK

400 FROM INT. W/ MAIN RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1997 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 129

ST128 SERVICE RD

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEWTON-WESTON TOWN LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 1949 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 43,300

HWY MUDDY POND

Good

Over: WATER STILLWATER RIVER

.2 MI. E. OF I-190, Worcester, MA

Built 2007 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 2,571

I 290

Good

Over: ST146 MILLBURY ST

100 FT. S OF CAMBRIDGE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2007 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 103,141

US 5 /ST10/BDSTN

Good

Over: RR GWRR

250 SOUTH W. MNT. RD., Franklin, MA

Built 2008 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 4,094

Showing 4,501-4,550 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.