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 POTTER BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 647 |
| WATER N BR SILVER BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER RIISKA BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 291 |
| WATER S BR SILVER BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER S BR SILVER BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER SANDY BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 480 |
| WATER BLACK BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 120 |
| WATER IRONWORK BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 390 |
| WATER LAKE QUINSIGAMOND | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15,666 |
| RR PCRR (ABANDONED) | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15,800 |
| WATER WARE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,664 |
| WATER MUDDY BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,422 |
| WATER DEPOT BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER MILL BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 50 |
| WATER CONE BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 905 |
| WATER POWDERMILL BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER MOOSE MEADOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER N BR MANHAN RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,810 |
| WATER GREEN RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 120 |
| WATER MILLERS RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 12,802 |
| WATER ALDER MEADOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 905 |
| WATER ALDER MEADOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,681 |
| WATER LITTLE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 129 |
| WATER WATTS STREAM | Massachusetts | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 776 |
| WATER NASHOBA BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 12,463 |
| WATER TOPHET BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,700 |
| WATER TRAPFALL BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,100 |
| WATER BEAR RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| WATER BEAR RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 129 |
| WATER JABISH BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,164 |
| WATER PORTER POND | Massachusetts | Good | 1940 | 86 | — |
| HWY BROOKLINE ST | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 18,503 |
| WATER WILDER BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 129 |
| WATER E BR OXBOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 129 |
| WATER OXBOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 647 |
| WATER HARTWELL BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| WATER DRY BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,362 |
| WATER MIKE DUNN BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 259 |
| WATER MANN BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 239 |
| WATER W BR NORTH RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 259 |
| WATER TAYLOR BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 129 |
| WATER CHAPEL BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1940 | 86 | 143 |
| WATER POLAND BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| WATER POLAND BROOK | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 776 |
| WATER BEAR RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 129 |
| WATER CHAPEL BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 214 |
| WATER MEADOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 129 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1940 | 86 | — |
| WATER CRANE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 68,680 |
| ST 35 HIGH ST | Massachusetts | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 72,449 |
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.