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 93 RAMP SA-CN

Good

Over: HWY ACCESS RD

I93/US1 INTERCHANGE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2003 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 29,700

HWY RAMP C

Good

Over: HWY POCASSET ST

RT79/RT138 TO I-195WB, Bristol, MA

Built 2016 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 9,100

US202 NB/BEECH ST

Good

Over: RR GWRR

JCT LYMAN ST., Hampden, MA

Built 2013 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 27,284

HWY ELM ST

Good

Over: WATER JONES RIVER

.15 MI S OF RTE 27, Plymouth, MA

Built 2014 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 5,043

HWY CANAAN-SFLD

Good

Over: WATER UMPACHENE RIVER

400 EAST OF RIVER RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 229

ST145 REV BCH PKWY

Good

Over: COMB BLUE LN & STATE RD

.1 MI N OF WINTHROP AVE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1933 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 30,300

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

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

Built 1937 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 1,393

HWY FOSTER HL RD

Good

Over: WATER COYS BROOK

0.1 MILE EAST OF RT 9, Worcester, MA

Built 2021 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 600

HWY SAM HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER WATTS STREAM

0.1 MI WEST OF 112, Hampshire, MA

Built 2016 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 129

HWY BEACH RD

Good

Over: WATER CENTERVILLE RIVER

AT CENTERVILLE RIVER, Barnstable, MA

Built 2002 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 7,500

HWY MARCH ST

Good

Over: COMB US 1A BYPASS & MBT

.1MI W ST 1A, Essex, MA

Built 1994 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 259

US 20 SPRINGFLD RD

Good

Over: WATER WESTFIELD RIVER

.1 M E JCT ST 187, Hampden, MA

Built 2005 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 20,504

ST 3 SB

Good

Over: US 3 SB CONNECTOR

0.25 MI SLY NH LINE, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 42,200

HWY LYMN BRNS RD

Good

Over: WATER BLODGETT MILL BRK

BY WARREN LN NEAR I90, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 100

ST 3 RAMP XX

Good

Over: HWY CENTRE ST

QUINCY ADAMS STATION, Norfolk, MA

Built 2009 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 27,770

US 3 SB

Good

Over: HWY WESTFORD RD

1.6 MI S OF ST-113, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 60,000

HWY BRODIE MT RD

Good

Over: WATER KINDERHOOK CREEK

300 E. OF RT 43, Berkshire, MA

Built 1949 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 4,371

HWY JHNSN ST EXT

Good

Over: RR MBTA (ABANDONED)

.1 MI S PINE STREET, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 300

HWY BALL HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER WACHUSETT BROOK

2.1 MI NW OF RT. 31, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 900

HWY HAMPDEN ST

Good

Over: WATER WALKER BROOK

AT ROUTE 20 INTERSECTION, Hampden, MA

Built 2006 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 129

ST109 HIGH ST

Good

Over: I 95 /128 NB

109 AT I-95 NB, Norfolk, MA

Built 2015 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 30,500

HWY TOLLAND RD

Good

Over: WATER OTIS RES SPILWAY

.1 MI SOUTH OF KIBBE RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2011 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 129

HWY SOUTH ST

Good

Over: WATER JABISH BROOK

0.5M W OF RT181 NEAR PLMR, Hampshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 1,000

HWY SCHOOL ST

Good

Over: RR AMTRAK/MBTA

AMTRAK MILE POST 202, Bristol, MA

Built 2004 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 10,988

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: OTHER BLACKSTONE CANAL

.2 MI SOUTH OF ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 5,904

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: WATER ABANDNED MILL RACE

BETWEEN M24003 & M24006, Worcester, MA

Built 2008 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 5,599

I 95 NB/US1/ST128

Good

Over: WATER NEPONSET RIVER

I 95AT SOUTH END OF ST128, Norfolk, MA

Built 2008 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 82,621

US 3 NB

Good

Over: HWY RICHARDSON RD

0.75 MI NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 49,476

HWY CANAL ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

BETWN RT2A&S.ATHOL RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1993 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 259

ST 2 A/MASS AVE

Good

Over: ST 3 MEMORIAL DR

N END HARVARD BR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1931 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 20,560

HWY OLD CNTY RD

Good

Over: RR MACRR

1.5 MI SO OF ST 6 A, Barnstable, MA

Built 1890 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 1,857

ST 2 EB

Good

Over: ST140 W MAIN ST

89.7 MM ON ROUTE 2, Worcester, MA

Built 2013 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 18,681

ST123 WEST ST

Good

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

AT SEVEN MILE RIVER, Bristol, MA

Built 1967 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 11,715

HWY STATE ST

Good

Over: WATER INDIAN HEAD RIVER

AT HANOVER LINE, Plymouth, MA

Built 1995 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 4,397

HWY RAMP A

Good

Over: US 1 WASHINGTON ST

EXIT FROM STADIUM, Norfolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 1,700

US 3 NB

Good

Over: HWY DUNSTABLE RD

1.5 MI. N OF RTE 40, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 82,679

US 3 SB

Good

Over: HWY DUNSTABLE RD

1.5 MI. N. OF RTE 40, Middlesex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 77,900

ST 2 WB

Good

Over: ST140 W MAIN ST

RTE 2 MM 89.7, Worcester, MA

Built 2012 Load: 60.5 t ADT: 32,655

HWY HIGHLAND RD

Good

Over: ST140 SB

1.2 MI NE OF COUNTY ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1969 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 10,300

HWY EAGLE ST

Good

Over: WATER N BR HOOSIC RIVER

AT INT OF RIVER&CANAL ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 7,799

HWY JOHNSON ST

Good

Over: OTHER PED BIKE PATH

.1 MI N PINE STREET, Essex, MA

Built 2004 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 6,700

HWY CLAVERACK RD

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

780 W OF LASALLE DR, Franklin, MA

Built 1998 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 143

HWY EXETER ST

Good

Over: RR CSX

100 FT SO OF CAMBRDGE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1915 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 1,050

I 93 RAMP X ACCS

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

1 KM E. OF I93, Suffolk, MA

Built 2005 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 17,600

ST 25 EB

Good

Over: WATER MILL POND

.1 M W OF GLEN CHARLIE RD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1981 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 38,664

HWY N BLNDFRD RD

Good

Over: WATER PEEBLE BROOK

200W. OF INT.W/BLAIR RD., Hampden, MA

Built 1994 Load: 61.3 t ADT: 388

HWY LYMAN ST

Good

Over: WATER SECOND LEVEL CANAL

AT JCT RACE ST., Hampden, MA

Built 2010 Load: 61.3 t ADT: 3,724

HWY OLD NOURS ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

@ THE CORNER OF BROOK WAY, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 61.5 t ADT: 200

ST 2 A/ST12/KIMBL

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

200 FT. EAST OF ROTARY, Worcester, MA

Built 2014 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 253,295

HWY CANAL ST

Good

Over: WATER HAMILTON CANAL

@ JACKSON & REVERE ST INT, Middlesex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 1,000

Showing 4,601-4,650 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.