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 MOUNTAIN DR

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.2 MI W OF RT 5, Hampshire, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 775

I 91 NB

Good

Over: WATER RUNNING GUTTER BRK

MM 28.1 ON I-91 NB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1963 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 17,583

I 91 SB

Good

Over: WATER RUNNING GUTTER BRK

MM 28.1 ON I-91 SB, Hampshire, MA

Built 1963 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 19,954

HWY LOCUST ST

Good

Over: OTHER LITTLE RIVER CUL

JUST E OF RTE 97, Essex, MA

Built 1903 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,800

HWY E BRIMFLD RD

Good

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

2.3 MI S OF RTE 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 605

I 190

Good

Over: WATER WEKEPEKE BROOK

.5 MI S OF ST-117, Worcester, MA

Built 1978 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 35,433

I 495

Good

Over: WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER

1 KM N ST114, Essex, MA

Built 1963 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 101,800

I 295

Good

Over: WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER

.2 MI E OF US 1, Bristol, MA

Built 1966 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 43,451

HWY MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER WHITINS POND

0.1M E OF IVY LN, Worcester, MA

Built 1971 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 7,278

HWY DEPOT RD

Good

Over: WATER WELLINGTON BROOK

.1 M. EAST OF I-395, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,034

I 395 RAMP C & D

Good

Over: WATER WELLINGTON BROOK

N.E. SET OF RAMPS EXIT 5, Worcester, MA

Built 1976 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,441

ST104 S MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER FORGE RIVER

1 MI NE OF US 44, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,190

ST127 GRANITE ST

Good

Over: RR RGCO RR (ABAND)

.8 MI N ROCKPORT CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1872 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,000

HWY DODGE ROAD

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

2.1 MILES FROM RT1, Essex, MA

Built 2009 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,290

US 20 HUNTNGTON RD

Good

Over: WATER POTASH BROOK

300 S. OF INT W/ RTE 23, Hampden, MA

Built 1959 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 14,224

ST131 MAIN ST

Good

Over: WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER

300 FT W. OF HAMILTON ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1910 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 14,190

I 91

Good

Over: WATER MILL RIVER CONDUIT

.1 M N JCT MAIN ST., Hampden, MA

Built 1961 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 107,542

I 190

Good

Over: HWY AGRICLTRL UNDRPS

MM 10.9 IN NB BARREL., Worcester, MA

Built 1979 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 35,354

HWY HARTFORD AVE

Good

Over: WATER BLACKSTONE RIVER

400 FT. EAST OF OAK ST, Worcester, MA

Built 1900 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 7,470

US 1 BSTN PRVDNC

Good

Over: WATER TRAPHOLE BROOK

.2 MI S OF CONEY ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1984 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 45,300

US 6 EB/ST28 SB

Good

Over: WATER AGAWAM RIVER

.2 MI W OF DEPOT ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1949 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 28,448

I 495

Good

Over: WATER SUDBURY RIVER

0.2 MI N OF I-90, Worcester, MA

Built 1966 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 69,784

HWY MILL RD

Good

Over: WATER ASSABET RIVER

.3 MI S OF FISHER ST., Worcester, MA

Built 2003 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,800

ST225 PLEASANT ST

Good

Over: WATER STONY BROOK

AT INT. OF PRESCOTT ST., Middlesex, MA

Built 2005 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,705

HWY DINGLE RD

Good

Over: WATER BRONSON BROOK

0.5 M WEST OF RT112, Hampshire, MA

Built 2008 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 129

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

HWY N POLAND RD

Poor

Over: WATER POLAND BROOK

0.1 MI. S. OF ROUTE 116, Franklin, MA

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 776

INDIAN HOLLOW ROAD

Poor

Over: LITTLE RIVER

1.61 KM N OF KNIGHTVILLE, Hampshire, MA

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t

HWY DIVISION ST

Poor

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

BTWN RTS41&183 S OF RSNDL, Berkshire, MA

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 5,599

HWY COTTAGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

0.5M S JCT RTS41&7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1934 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 240

HWY MEADOW ST

Poor

Over: WATER BEARTOWN BROOK

.5 MI SOUTH OF RTE 102, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 647

HWY BEAVER ST

Poor

Over: WATER BEAVER BROOK

0.16 KM N. OF RT. 113, Middlesex, MA

Built 1971 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 3,500

HWY HOSPITAL RD

Poor

Over: WATER QUABOAG STREAM

JUST E OF STATE AVE, Hampden, MA

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t

US 20 PARK ST

Poor

Over: WATER QUABOAG RIVER

.15M E OF JCT. ST 67, Hampden, MA

Built 1939 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 9,827

HWY SOUTH ST

Poor

Over: WATER SAWMILL RIVER

0.2 MI W OF ST 63, Franklin, MA

Built 1938 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 647

HWY OLD SPFLD RD

Poor

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

1 M N OF EAST ST, Hampshire, MA

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

HWY CHURCH ST

Poor

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

300 N OF RIVER ST INT, Hampden, MA

Built 1937 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 6,364

HWY COUNTY RD

Poor

Over: WATER IRONWORK BROOK

2 MI EAST OF ROUTE 7, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,810

HWY ST JAMES AVE

Poor

Over: RR CSX

ADJACENT TO I-291, Hampden, MA

Built 1956 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 34,300

HWY FOREST ST

Poor

Over: WATER TOWN RIVER

.01 M FROM RIVER ST, Plymouth, MA

Built 1968 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 776

US202 MAPLE ST

Poor

Over: WATER N BR MILLERS RIVER

0.25 M W JCT GLENALLEN, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 6,595

HWY WINTHROP ST

Poor

Over: WATER IPSWICH RIVER

@ IPWSICH TL = I-01-006, Essex, MA

Built 1845 Load: 0.6 t ADT: 650

HWY CENTER ST

Poor

Over: WATER SAWMILL RIVER

0.2 MI W OF ST 63, Franklin, MA

Built 1937 Load: 0.7 t ADT: 517

HWY PROSPECT AVE

Poor

Over: RR PVRR

.1 M E WESTFIELD T.L., Hampden, MA

Built 1926 Load: 1.9 t

HWY MERIDIAN ST

Poor

Over: WATER CHELSEA RIVER

@ CHELSEA TL = C09005, Suffolk, MA

Built 1954 Load: 4.3 t ADT: 22,435

Showing 4,801-4,850 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.