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 SOUTH ST

Good

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

ADJACENT TO RIVER AVE, Plymouth, MA

Built 2008 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 7,888

ST 3 NB/PLGRM HWY

Good

Over: WATER EEL RIVER

4.25 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1955 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 45,000

ST 3 SB/PLGRM HWY

Good

Over: WATER EEL RIVER

4.25 M S OF RTE 44, Plymouth, MA

Built 1955 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 43,577

HWY WHITTENTN ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

AT WHITTENTON MILL, Bristol, MA

Built 1930 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 6,595

HWY PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: RR CSX

250 FT SOUTH OF STAFFORD, Worcester, MA

Built 1992 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 2,572

HWY ADSIT CROSBY

Good

Over: WATER KONKAPOT RIVER

.3 MI WEST OF ROUTE 57, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 647

HWY FOUNTAIN ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1 MI. N. OF ST-135, Middlesex, MA

Built 2001 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 4,500

HWY PERRYVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER CANAL

.1 MI EAST OF ST12, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 286

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: WATER OTTER RIVER

0.5 MI. S. OF ST-68, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 400

US 3 SB

Good

Over: ST 62 BURLINGTON RD

RT 3 AT RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 56.3 t ADT: 38,322

I 395 SB

Good

Over: WATER WELLINGTON BROOK

.1 MI S OF DEPOT RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 56.3 t ADT: 26,878

HWY PRTTS CNR RD

Good

Over: WATER ADAMS BROOK

1.2 MI E OF N EAST ST, Franklin, MA

Built 2000 Load: 56.3 t ADT: 200

HWY ALPINE DR

Good

Over: WATER LEBANON BROOK

1 MI. N. OF CT. LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 2012 Load: 56.3 t ADT: 780

HWY ROOSEVELT AV

Good

Over: RR CSX

0.7 MI SOUTH OF I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 2013 Load: 56.3 t ADT: 21,900

HWY PERKINS AVE

Good

Over: WATER SALISBURY PLAIN R

.25 MI E OF RTE 28, Plymouth, MA

Built 1995 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 7,629

HWY ROCKLAND ST

Good

Over: RR CSX/MBTA

.08 KM NLY RTE 16, Norfolk, MA

Built 1917 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 11,300

US 1 RAMP TC

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 60,300

I 93 RAMP XX

Good

Over: COMB I90&I93RMP CC&AMTK

I93 / I90 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 480

ST128

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR (ABANDON

2 KM NORTH OF ST114, Essex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 66,000

ST 8 WSHGTN STATE

Good

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

.2 MI S OF MIDDLEFIELD RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2002 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 2,228

HWY 5TH MASS TPK

Good

Over: WATER FLAG BROOK

1000 E OF 31/PRINCETN RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 2,200

HWY ARCHAMBO RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR NORTH RIVER

400W INT W/ADAMSVILLE RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2002 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 129

ST 63 LNG PLAIN RD

Good

Over: RR NECRR

2.1 M N AMHERST T.L., Franklin, MA

Built 2010 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 4,138

ST107 SALEM TNPK

Good

Over: WATER E BR PINES RIVER

1.5 KM NE OF RTE 60, Essex, MA

Built 2011 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 34,397

HWY WESTBRO

Good

Over: WATER WEST BROOK

425 S OF HYDNVILLE R, Franklin, MA

Built 2002 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 776

US 3 NB

Good

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

0.5 MI NW RT3 & CNCRD RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 81,500

US 3 SB

Good

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

0.5 MI NW RT3 & CNCRD RD, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 86,400

ST 4 NB

Good

Over: US 3 NB/SB

2.2 MI N OF I 495, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 14,416

HWY BATTLES RD

Good

Over: WATER ROUND MEADOW BROOK

.1 MI S OF ST 2A, Worcester, MA

Built 2013 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 260

US 3 NB

Good

Over: ST 62 BURLINGTON RD

RT 3 AT RT 62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 51,663

HWY MOUNTAIN RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

50E OF RTE8A AT VINCENT, Franklin, MA

Built 2004 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 120

I 95 SB/ST128SB

Good

Over: ST135 WEST ST

I 95 AT ST 135, Norfolk, MA

Built 2014 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 69,490

ST 1 A/WASHINGTON

Good

Over: I 95 NB/ST 128 NB

US 1A AT ST 128, Norfolk, MA

Built 2010 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 28,448

ST 1 A/WASHINGTON

Good

Over: I 95 SB/ST 128 SB

US 1A AT ST 128, Norfolk, MA

Built 2010 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 28,448

HWY ALLEN ST

Good

Over: WATER SALISBURY BROOK

AT MAIN ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 2002 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 2,068

ST127 A/THATCHER

Good

Over: WATER GOOD HRBR BCH CRK

JUST N OF BASS AVE, Essex, MA

Built 2007 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 12,931

ST 68 E COUNTY RD

Good

Over: WATER MUSCHOPAUGE BROOK

300 FT SO. OF WACHUSET ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1958 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 3,517

HWY GAL MALL DR

Good

Over: WATER COTLEY RIVER

AT SHOPPING MALL, Bristol, MA

Built 1991 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 357

HWY LEONARD ST

Good

Over: WATER DRY BROOK

150 WEST OF BELLEVUE AVE, Berkshire, MA

Built 2008 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 1,552

HWY OXBOW RD

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

0.3 MI N OF ST-20, Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 400

HWY HIGHLAND RD

Good

Over: ST140 NB

1.2 MI NE OF COUNTY ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1958 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 10,300

HWY W BRITANNIA

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

@ REED AND BARTON, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 4,958

US 3 NB

Good

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

0.5 MI NW RT 62 & RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 57.5 t ADT: 60,000

US 3 SB

Good

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

0.5 MI NW RT 62 & RT 3, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 57.5 t ADT: 60,000

I 93 RAMP SACN

Good

Over: COMB US1 RMP LT LC&ORNG

I93/US1 US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 57.6 t ADT: 21,600

ST 9 WORCESTER ST

Good

Over: HWY WESTON RD

2.4 MI WLY RT 16, Norfolk, MA

Built 1932 Load: 57.8 t ADT: 64,137

ST 4 NASHUA RD

Good

Over: WATER CONCORD RIVER

1 MI N OF BEDFORD T.L., Middlesex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 13,600

HWY SUMMER ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.2 MI W OF FLAGG ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1984 Load: 58.1 t ADT: 4,100

I 395 NB

Good

Over: WATER WELLINGTON BROOK

.1MI. S. OF DEPOT RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 58.2 t ADT: 28,031

ST 3 NB

Good

Over: US 3 SB CONNECTOR

0.25 M SLY N.H. LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 58.2 t ADT: 48,000

Showing 4,551-4,600 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.