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

ST 12 N MAIN ST

Good

Over: ST 2

2000 FT W OF HAMILTON ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1949 Load: 81.3 t ADT: 31,344

HWY LAKE RD

Good

Over: WATER WATATIC LAKE OUTLT

@ CORNER OF CROSS RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 81.4 t ADT: 1,786

HWY STATION ST

Good

Over: WATER CENTER BROOK

.3 MILES SOUTH OF ST 140, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 81.5 t ADT: 300

HWY HIGH ST

Good

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

1 MI W MAIN & PLEASANT, Middlesex, MA

Built 1999 Load: 82.6 t ADT: 2,000

ST177 AMER LGN HWY

Good

Over: WATER BREAD CHEESE BROOK

1.1 MI E OF ST 88, Bristol, MA

Built 1941 Load: 83.7 t ADT: 6,643

ST 2 @ STA 526

Good

Over: WATER OXBOW BROOK

300 W. OF E. OXBOW ROAD, Franklin, MA

Built 2013 Load: 84.2 t ADT: 4,427

HWY PARKER ST

Good

Over: WATER BARTONS BROOK

800 EAST OF PINE ST, Worcester, MA

Built 2004 Load: 84.9 t ADT: 100

HWY BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

W OF RT32 IN GILBERTVILLE, Worcester, MA

Built 1887 Load: 85.0 t ADT: 259

ST 66 W HAMPTON RD

Good

Over: WATER BASSET BROOK

0.75 MI W FLORENCE RD, Hampshire, MA

Built 2010 Load: 85.3 t ADT: 6,466

HWY SEEKONK RD

Good

Over: WATER SEEKONK BROOK

100 WEST OF ALFORD RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 2003 Load: 86.1 t ADT: 457

HWY GRT PLN AVE

Good

Over: I 95 /ST 128 NB & SB

AT I 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 2015 Load: 86.2 t ADT: 17,770

HWY CUDWORTH RD

Good

Over: WATER CHILDS BROOK

0.5M W OF RT 112, Hampshire, MA

Built 1985 Load: 86.2 t ADT: 259

ST 2 A/S MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER MILLERS RIVER

WEST END OF DWNTWN MAIN S, Worcester, MA

Built 2010 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 26,250

HWY REDFIELD ST

Good

Over: COMB MBTA&REDS&FRKLN ST

OVER RED LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1955 Load: 90.1 t ADT: 700

ST 2 @STA 454

Good

Over: WATER AVERY BROOK

1000 FT WEST OF AVERY RD, Franklin, MA

Built 2009 Load: 90.3 t ADT: 5,241

HWY OLD STATE HW

Good

Over: WATER W BR WESTFIELD RIV

0.2MI NE OF JCT W/ RTE 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1910 Load: 90.4 t ADT: 388

ST 41 N UNDERMTN R

Good

Over: WATER KARNER BROOK

AT INT. W/ ROUTE 23, Berkshire, MA

Built 2010 Load: 92.9 t ADT: 2,643

ST 28 A/FALMTH HWY

Good

Over: RR MACRR (OTIS SPURR)

.25 MI SO OF COUNTY RD, Barnstable, MA

Built 1941 Load: 93.0 t ADT: 15,905

I 95 SB/ST128 SB

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.1 MI.SW OF GRT PLAIN AVE, Norfolk, MA

Built 2015 Load: 94.8 t ADT: 69,490

I 91

Good

Over: WATER BLOODY BROOK

.35 MI.S.CONWAY RD STA 33, Franklin, MA

Built 1965 Load: 95.0 t ADT: 24,181

HWY GLENMERE RD

Good

Over: WATER LITTLE RIVER

0.3 MI N OF RT 20, Worcester, MA

Built 1956 Load: 96.7 t ADT: 394

HWY PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

1.3 MI SW OF RTE 122, Worcester, MA

Built 2009 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 3,082

HWY HOUGHTON ST

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.2MI. S. OF ST-62, Middlesex, MA

Built 2014 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 5,150

HWY CENTRAL AVE

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

NEEDHAM/NEWTON TOWN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1860 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 22,500

HWY COLEBRK RIV

Good

Over: WATER CRANBERRY POND BRK

2 MI S. OF RTE 57, Hampden, MA

Built 2020 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 120

HWY FROST RD

Good

Over: WATER DEPOT BROOK

.4 MI W OF ROUTE 8, Berkshire, MA

Built 2017 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 258

US 1 NB & SB

Good

Over: HWY CENTRE ST

0.7 MI N OF RTE 114, Essex, MA

Built 2012 Load: 97.4 t ADT: 32,600

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER CATACUNEMAUG BROOK

AT MAIN INT IN TWN, Middlesex, MA

Built 1900 Load: 98.7 t ADT: 8,180

HWY WHATELY RD

Good

Over: WATER BLOODY BROOK

0.5 MI S OF RT 116, Franklin, MA

Built 1965 Load: 98.9 t ADT: 647

I 90 WB

Good

Over: WATER LARRYWAUG BROOK

AT MILE MARKER 5.4, Berkshire, MA

Built 1957 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 11,602

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

.7 MI. E. OF ST. 27, Middlesex, MA

Built 1981 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,500

HWY MARTIN ST

Good

Over: WATER FORT POND BROOK

0.2 MI S. OF CENTRAL ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,267

HWY RIVER ST

Good

Over: WATER HOOSIC RIVER

AT INT W/PROSPECT ST, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 129

I 495 NB

Good

Over: TR AMESBURY RIVERWALK

.1 MI N EXIT 55, Essex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 22,265

I 495 SB

Good

Over: TR AMESBURY RIVERWALK

.1 MI N OF EXIT 55, Essex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 21,340

ST 31 GREENVLLE RD

Good

Over: WATER TRAPFALL BROOK

1 MI N RT 119, Middlesex, MA

Built 1981 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,778

HWY SAM FONZO DR

Good

Over: WATER BASS RIVER

0.2 MI W OF ST-97, Essex, MA

Built 1998 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,198

ST 9 HUNTINGTN AV

Good

Over: OTHER RELIEF

RING ROAD, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 23,275

HWY CYPRESS ST

Good

Over: TR GREEN LINE D

OVER GREEN LINE, Norfolk, MA

Built 1916 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 24,000

US 3

Good

Over: WATER MOORES CANAL

1.4 MI NW DRUM HILL, Middlesex, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 106,700

ST 2

Good

Over: HWY ACCESS ROAD

1.3 MILES NW OF BEDFORD R, Middlesex, MA

Built 2016 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 46,500

PINE PLAINS ROAD

Good

Over: MUDDY POND BROOK

12.9 KM S OF GARDNER, Worcester, MA

Built 1938 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 20

I 95 NB/ST128 NB

Good

Over: WATER CHARLES RIVER

.16KM SW GRT PLAIN AVE., Norfolk, MA

Built 2014 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 75,565

HWY QUAKER RD

Good

Over: WATER HERRING BROOK

.8 M SOUTH OF CURLY BLVD, Barnstable, MA

Built 2000 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 7,500

HWY DEPOT ST

Good

Over: WATER N NASHUA RIVER

AT JCT OF RTE 2A, Worcester, MA

Built 1908 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,800

HWY J FITCH HWY

Good

Over: WATER FALLULAH BROOK

.1 MI SE OF RTE 31, Worcester, MA

Built 1964 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,997

HWY ARBOR WAY

Good

Over: WATER BROOK

OFF STEVENS RD., Worcester, MA

Built 1998 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 200

ST 30 PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: WATER STONEY BROOK

AT SOUTHBOROUGH T.L., Middlesex, MA

Built 1895 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 11,137

HWY MT WAYTE AVE

Good

Over: WATER EAMES BROOK

.4MI.S.W. OF FRANKLIN ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 1947 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 14,700

HWY BROADWAY

Good

Over: WATER INDIAN HEAD RIVER

AT HANSON LINE, Plymouth, MA

Built 2010 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 12,543

Showing 4,751-4,800 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.