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 METNGHOUSE R

Good

Over: WATER AMETHYST BROOK

.3 MILE N JCT AMHERST RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 2015 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 300

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA (ABANDONED)

.2 MI WEST OF RTE 138, Bristol, MA

Built 1937 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 1,300

HWY SLPY HLLW RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

0.7 MI E OF ST 41 157.55, Berkshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 130

HWY PROSPECT ST

Good

Over: HWY SPRING ST

AT E. END 6TH ST., Franklin, MA

Built 2010 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 400

ST145 SARATOGA ST

Good

Over: WATER BELLE ISLE INLET

AT WINTHROP TOWN LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 2013 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 34,138

HWY LOCKE ST

Good

Over: OTHER LITTLE RIVER CUL

JUST E OF RTE 97, Essex, MA

Built 1891 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 4,500

ST113 LOWELL ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.1 MI W. ST 28, Essex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 12,025

ST113 LOWELL ST

Good

Over: WATER SPICKET RIVER

.1M WEST OF ST 28, Essex, MA

Built 2003 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 12,025

HWY JUNCTION RD

Good

Over: RR CSX

AT MERRILL/EAST ST 148.18, Berkshire, MA

Built 1886 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 21,300

HWY COUNTY ST

Good

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

.5 MI SW OF READ ST, Bristol, MA

Built 1950 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 12,414

ST106 WAPPING RD

Good

Over: WATER JONES RIVER

1.2 MI WEST OF ST 3 A, Plymouth, MA

Built 1971 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 7,800

HWY PAXTON RD

Good

Over: WATER SUGDEN RESRVR OTLT

1.5 MI N OF ST-9, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 1,600

ST123 BELMONT ST

Good

Over: ST 24

.1 MI W OF VA HOSPITAL, Plymouth, MA

Built 1954 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 29,214

ST 68 BLDWNVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

.5 MI N OF PHILLIPSTON LN, Worcester, MA

Built 2002 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 50

HWY WILLIAMS ST

Good

Over: WATER WADING RIVER

AT ROBINSON POND, Bristol, MA

Built 2004 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 500

HWY MEADOWNCK RD

Good

Over: WATER MOONAKIS RIVER

.1 MI E OF METOXIT RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 2004 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 1,857

HWY PARK HILL RD

Good

Over: WATER BASSETT BROOK

1MI S OF RT66 BY EHMPTN, Hampshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 1,422

HWY DEPOT RD

Good

Over: WATER ROUND MEADOW BROOK

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

Built 2010 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 4,996

HWY ROYALSTON RD

Good

Over: WATER W BR TULLY RIVER

0.3M WEST OF TULLY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2001 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 450

HWY VERNON AVE

Good

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

INT. OF RTE 122/ VERNON, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 2,069

ST 47 HADLEY ST

Good

Over: WATER BACHELOR BROOK

1 MILE NORTH OF ST. 116, Hampshire, MA

Built 2008 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 6,077

HWY CENTRAL ST

Good

Over: RR PWRR

CORN OF CNTRL ST & ST 122, Worcester, MA

Built 2006 Load: 63.3 t ADT: 5,904

ST 43 GREEN RIV RD

Good

Over: WATER GREEN RIVER

0.8 MI N OF US 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 63.4 t ADT: 2,300

ST152 N MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER BUNGAY RIVER

@ COLONAL BLAKINGTON INN, Bristol, MA

Built 2012 Load: 63.9 t ADT: 15,000

HWY EAST RD

Good

Over: WATER ALFORD BROOK

.3 MI E OF ALFORD CTR RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2006 Load: 64.1 t ADT: 1,267

ST 8 HINSDALE RD

Good

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

.9 MI S. OF FOX ROAD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 8,535

US 1 NB/WASHNGTON

Good

Over: HWY NORTH ENTRANCE DR

1.4 MI.NO.OF PINE ST., Norfolk, MA

Built 2002 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 15,129

HWY E LEVERET RD

Good

Over: WATER MOUNTAIN BROOK

0.2 M1 W SHUTESBURY TL, Hampshire, MA

Built 2008 Load: 64.6 t ADT: 2,456

US 20 @ STA 33+26

Good

Over: WATER CUSHMAN BROOK

AT MILE MARKER 33, Berkshire, MA

Built 2013 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 1,552

HWY BONIE RIG HL

Good

Over: WATER W BR WALKER BK

500 FT S OF RTE 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 2017 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 1,293

HWY WINTER ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.1MI.NTH.OF ST.135, Middlesex, MA

Built 2017 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 13,248

HWY FREIGHT YARD

Good

Over: OTHER MASSDOT DEPOT

AT ROUTE 112, Hampshire, MA

Built 2016 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 120

HWY SILVER ST

Good

Over: WATER TWELVEMILE BROOK

1.75 M SOUTH OF RT 20, Hampden, MA

Built 2019 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 220

HWY CUMMINS HWY

Good

Over: RR MBTA

2000FT NW OFJCTSR28&SR138, Suffolk, MA

Built 1901 Load: 65.7 t ADT: 24,439

HWY HUNGERFORD

Good

Over: WATER SW BR HOUSATONIC R

@ INT. W/ CAROLINE ST., Berkshire, MA

Built 2009 Load: 65.7 t ADT: 517

HWY MILL ST

Good

Over: WATER MILL BROOK

200 W OF GREEN ST., Worcester, MA

Built 2008 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 3,000

HWY MDC ACCSS RD

Good

Over: ST 24

1.1 KM S OF I 93, Norfolk, MA

Built 2011 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 1

HWY PERRYVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER FRENCH RIVER

.2 MI E OF ST-12, Worcester, MA

Built 2011 Load: 66.1 t ADT: 723

HWY WEST ST

Good

Over: WATER CITY BROOK

.25 MI S OF CROSS RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1956 Load: 66.1 t ADT: 120

HWY JULIAN ST

Good

Over: WATER SOUTH RIVER

EAST OF BAYBERRY ROAD, Plymouth, MA

Built 2010 Load: 66.4 t ADT: 786

HWY HOPPER RD

Good

Over: WATER HOPPER BROOK

.2 MI S OF GREEN RIVER RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1999 Load: 66.5 t ADT: 905

HWY NB LOWLL CON

Good

Over: HWY PLAIN ST

1.2 MILES N. OF I495, Middlesex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 66.9 t ADT: 23,194

HWY SB LOWLL CON

Good

Over: HWY PLAIN ST

1.2 MILES N OF I-495, Middlesex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 66.9 t ADT: 23,300

HWY WHITNEY ST

Good

Over: RR CSX

1.5 MI. NTH OF ST-16, Middlesex, MA

Built 2008 Load: 67.0 t ADT: 5,700

ST131 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER HOBBS BROOK

200 FT N OF HALL RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1960 Load: 67.0 t ADT: 12,525

HWY COLD SPRG RD

Good

Over: WATER SWIFT RIVER

@ RIVER RD AND WARE LINE, Hampshire, MA

Built 2004 Load: 67.2 t ADT: 259

HWY WINDSOR RD

Good

Over: WATER DRY BROOK

500 S OF SNDMILL HILL RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1988 Load: 67.5 t ADT: 129

HWY MORTON ST

Good

Over: RR BMRR

0.16 KM E LAWRENCE STREET, Middlesex, MA

Built 2010 Load: 67.6 t ADT: 130

HWY LMNTR SHRLY

Good

Over: RR MBTA/BMRR

0.2 MI W OF FORT POND RD, Worcester, MA

Built 2007 Load: 67.7 t ADT: 9,356

HWY LEYDEN RD

Good

Over: WATER GLEN BROOK

.1 M S EUNICE WLLMS DR, Franklin, MA

Built 1960 Load: 67.8 t ADT: 2,457

Showing 4,651-4,700 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.