Historic Bridges in Massachusetts
1,481 bridges built before 1951 in Massachusetts still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,481 bridges in Massachusetts built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATER TAYLOR BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 387 |
| WATER TAYLOR BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 517 |
| WATER SOUTH RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 776 |
| WATER E BR WESTFIELD RIV | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 2,630 |
| WATER WESTFIELD RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 429 |
| WATER NASHUA RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 130 |
| WATER BAILEY BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,938 |
| WATER SWIFT RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,940 |
| WATER HUBBARD RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 258 |
| WATER WARE RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 100 |
| WATER CHICKLEY RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER CHICKLEY RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 150 |
| WATER CHICKLEY RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 650 |
| WATER MILL BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 240 |
| WATER W BRANCH BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 339 |
| WATER WINDSOR BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 390 |
| WATER BURNSHIRT RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,038 |
| WATER BRIGHAM POND INLET | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,741 |
| WATER NORTH CANAL | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 14,432 |
| WATER SPICKET RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 3,202 |
| WATER SPICKET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20,200 |
| WATER SPICKET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,300 |
| WATER SPICKET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,232 |
| WATER SPICKET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,206 |
| WATER SOUTH CANAL | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 14,432 |
| WATER BEARTOWN BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 647 |
| WATER GREENWATER BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 240 |
| WATER GREENWATER BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,745 |
| WATER DAVIS BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER GREENWATER BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER ROARING BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER CHICOPEE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15,000 |
| WATER CHICOPEE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 13,750 |
| TR MARBLEHEAD RAIL TR | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 5,172 |
| WATER FACTORY BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER SMART BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 359 |
| WATER CHICOPEE BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 258 |
| WATER SAWMILL RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 2,844 |
| WATER LOOM BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER ROARING BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 776 |
| WATER ROARING BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 377 |
| WATER MEADOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,293 |
| WATER UMPACHENE BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,034 |
| WATER WHITING RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER WHITING RIVER | Massachusetts | Good | 1939 | 87 | 259 |
| WATER MILL RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 21,100 |
| WATER DIMMOCK BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 388 |
| WATER BURNSHIRT RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,156 |
| WATER SAM RICE BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 357 |
| WATER SHIPPEE BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 278 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.