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 SILVER ST

Poor

Over: WATER GREENWATER BROOK

AT JCT W/ ROUTE 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 17.7 t ADT: 240

ST 37 WASHNGTON ST

Poor

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

.48 KM S OF PLAIN ST, Norfolk, MA

Built 1948 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 34,137

HWY LAND BLVD

Poor

Over: WATER BROAD CANAL

.1 MI N OF LONGFELLOW BR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1956 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 15,611

HWY OLD COLNY RD

Poor

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

20 N OF ST 62, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 400

HWY N MAIN ST

Poor

Over: ST 24

1.0 S OF BERKLEY T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1951 Load: 18.2 t ADT: 2,436

ST125 BRIDGE ST

Poor

Over: WATER MERRIMACK RIVER

.3 MI E HAVERHILL CENTER, Essex, MA

Built 1925 Load: 18.3 t ADT: 36,500

ST112 WORTHGTN RD

Poor

Over: WATER POND BROOK

3.8 MI N OF JCT US20-112, Hampshire, MA

Built 1917 Load: 18.3 t ADT: 3,425

HWY WEST ST

Poor

Over: ST 24

.8 MI NORTH OF ST106, Plymouth, MA

Built 1953 Load: 18.4 t ADT: 5,571

ST 2

Poor

Over: HWY LAKE ST

0.5 MI E RT2 & RT60, Middlesex, MA

Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 56,236

HWY BODEN LN

Poor

Over: RR MBTA/CSX

0.1 MI N OF RT 135, Middlesex, MA

Built 1891 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,300

I 91 NB

Poor

Over: RR GWRR

MM 45.1 ON I-91 NB, Franklin, MA

Built 1962 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 12,266

HWY BWKR SB ONRP

Poor

Over: WATER MUDDY RIVER

.2 MI S OF ST RTE 2A, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 18.7 t ADT: 18,470

HWY LINWOOD AVE

Poor

Over: WATER LINWOOD POND

NEAR UXBRIDGE LINE, Worcester, MA

Built 1923 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 7,363

ST 1 A/MAIN ST

Poor

Over: RR MBTA

1.6 MI N ROWLEY TOWN HALL, Essex, MA

Built 1907 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 4,784

HWY TEWKSBURY ST

Poor

Over: RR CSX

.2 MI E I 93, Essex, MA

Built 1980 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 3,500

I 90 EB

Poor

Over: RR MBTA

.1 MI S. CHARLES RV S111, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 76,373

I 90 WB

Poor

Over: RR MBTA

.1 MI S. CHARLES RV S111, Suffolk, MA

Built 1965 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 74,344

ST102 PLEASANT ST

Poor

Over: WATER HOUSATONIC RIVER

0.3 MI W OF US 20, Berkshire, MA

Built 1958 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 12,284

HWY VILLAGE ST

Poor

Over: TR MARBLEHEAD RAIL TR

NEAR HIGH SCHOOL, Essex, MA

Built 1939 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,700

US 20 EB/WESTON ST

Poor

Over: I 95 /ST128

RT 20 EB AT RT 128, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 29,250

HWY BARDWELL ST

Poor

Over: WATER JABISH BROOK

0.5M W OF RT181 NEAR PLMR, Hampshire, MA

Built 1940 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 1,164

HWY HIGHLAND ST

Poor

Over: COMB I 90 & CSX/MBTA

.16 KM S. ST16 S18, Middlesex, MA

Built 1964 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 4,913

HWY WEST RD

Poor

Over: WATER SCRIBNER BROOK

AT HARRISON CAULKIN RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1947 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 517

HWY MENDON RD

Poor

Over: WATER ABBOTT RUN RIVER

AT JUNCT. DEPOT STREET, Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 7,000

HWY WESTFORD ST

Poor

Over: I 495

0.75 MI W RT 110, Middlesex, MA

Built 1961 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 4,000

ST141 APPLETON ST

Poor

Over: WATER FIRST LEVEL CANAL

200 N OF BIGELOW ST, Hampden, MA

Built 1919 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 9,698

HWY CHRISTIAN LN

Poor

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

0.2 MI W OF ST 5, Franklin, MA

Built 1950 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 900

US 44 WINTHROP ST

Poor

Over: WATER PALMER RIVER

1.7 MI NE SEEKONK T.L., Bristol, MA

Built 1850 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 13,010

MA ROUTE 28

Poor

Over: CAPE COD CANAL

JUNCT MA RTES 25 28 & 6, Barnstable, MA

Built 1935 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 44,240

ST 9 /ST112

Poor

Over: WATER E BR WESTFIELD RIV

AT JCT W/ LILAC AVE., Hampshire, MA

Built 1939 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 2,685

I 195

Poor

Over: COMB MACRR/PURCHASE ST

.1 MI W OF ST 18, Bristol, MA

Built 1965 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 63,995

US 1 SB/UPPR DECK

Poor

Over: US 1 NB/CHEL LWR DECK

CHEL APPR UP, Suffolk, MA

Built 1950 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 33,373

ST 32 NW BRNTRE RD

Poor

Over: WATER WARE CANAL

0.6 MI N OF JCT 67, Worcester, MA

Built 1934 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 3,750

HWY CONGRESS ST

Poor

Over: WATER FORT POINT CHANNEL

OVER FT POINT CHANNEL, Suffolk, MA

Built 1850 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 17,100

HWY WALNUT ST

Poor

Over: ST 24

.2 MI EAST OF MANLEY ROAD, Plymouth, MA

Built 1953 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 1,966

ST 3 A/GORHAM ST

Poor

Over: WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK

300 YDS SO LWLL CONNCTR, Middlesex, MA

Built 1960 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 13,600

ST 28 NB

Poor

Over: ST151 NATHAN ELLIS HWY

.75 M S OF BOURNE TL, Barnstable, MA

Built 1960 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 16,352

HWY MANCHAUG RD

Poor

Over: WATER MUMFORD RIVER

200 FT.W OF PUTNAM HILL R, Worcester, MA

Built 1937 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 1,600

HWY BARR RD

Poor

Over: WATER MEADOW BROOK

0.2 M S GILBERTVILLE RD, Worcester, MA

Built 1939 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 1,293

HWY OAKLAND AVE

Poor

Over: TR METHUEN RAIL TRAIL

JUST WEST ST 28 BROADWAY, Essex, MA

Built 1936 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 11,900

HWY CLEMENT ST

Poor

Over: WATER MILL RIVER

AT MILL RIVER, Hampshire, MA

Built 1894 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 2,400

HWY BLANDFORD RD

Poor

Over: WATER WALKER BROOK

AT INT. W/ ROUTE 20, Hampden, MA

Built 1939 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 800

HWY W NRTHFLD RD

Poor

Over: RR NECRR

.1 M E MT HERMON STA RD, Franklin, MA

Built 1909 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 646

HWY MAPLE ST

Poor

Over: WATER E BR HOUSATONIC R

250 W OF JCT RTS 8 & 143, Berkshire, MA

Built 1948 Load: 21.9 t ADT: 2,457

HWY DORCHSTR AVE

Poor

Over: RR MBTA SPUR

OVER RED LINE, Suffolk, MA

Built 1925 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 11,800

HWY JERUSALEM RD

Poor

Over: WATER HOP BROOK

150 W OF INT. W/ MAIN RD, Berkshire, MA

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 129

HWY REVERE CT

Poor

Over: WATER E BR NEPONSET RIV

2.4 KM SE OF RTE. 95, Norfolk, MA

Built 1910 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 259

ST 24

Poor

Over: ST140 COUNTY ST

AT ST 140, Bristol, MA

Built 1951 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 58,000

ST 32 PALMER RD

Poor

Over: WATER WARE RIVER

AT JCT OLD BELCHERTWN RD., Hampshire, MA

Built 1937 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 12,634

HWY JW MAHAR HWY

Poor

Over: WATER MONATIQUOT RIVER

AT MONATIQUOT RIVER, Norfolk, MA

Built 1982 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 23,700

Showing 4,901-4,950 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.