How Many Structurally Deficient Bridges Are There in MA's 5th District?

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MA — Hundreds of bridges in Massachusetts have been classified as "structurally deficient" and thousands qualify as "functionally obsolete," according to data from the National Bridge Inventory Database.

Of the 5,171 bridges in the state, 483 (nine percent) are "structurally deficient," meaning at least one of the bridge's key elements is in "poor" or worse condition. The Bay State ranks 20th in percentage of structurally deficient bridges and ranks 31st in overall number.

On top of that, 2,214 bridges (43 percent) are "functionally obsolete," meaning they do not meet current design standards.

The database further breaks down the numbers by congressional district. In Massachusetts' 5th District – which includes Sudbury, Natick, Holliston, Waltham, Arlington, Lexington, Belmont, Weston, Wayland, Woburn and several other communities in Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester counties – 222 (10 percent) are classified as structurally deficient and 1,056 (47 percent) qualify as functionally obsolete.

Over the last 10 years, 95 new bridges have been constructed in the district, 97 have undergone major reconstruction and needed repairs have been identified on 2,051 bridges. This will cost an estimated $10 billion, according to the database.

Here's a look at the 10 most-traveled structurally deficient bridges in the district:

1. I 95 /St128 over RR MBTA/BMRR (Middlesex), Built in 1950, 172,000 daily crossings
2. I 95 NB/St128 NB over St 3 A/Cambridge St (Middlesex), Built in 1950, 159,900 daily crossings
3. Hwy Grove St over I 95 /St128 (Middlesex), Built in 1962, 154,500 daily crossings
4. I 90 over RR CSX/Mbta (Middlesex), Built in 1964, 121,547 daily crossings
5. St 16 Rev Bch Pkwy over Water Malden River (Middlesex), Built in 1954, 116,500 daily crossings
6. I 90 WB over US 20 N Beacon St (Suffolk), Built in 1964, 104,393 daily crossings
7. I 95 NB/St128 NB over Hwy Middlesex Tpk (Middlesex), Built in 1962, 91,300 daily crossings
8. I 95 SB/St128 SB over Hwy Middlesex Tpk (Middlesex), Built in 1962, 91,000 daily crossings
9. I 95 SB/St128 SB over St 3 A/Cambridge St (Middlesex), Built in 1950, 86,169 daily crossings
10. I 90 EB over Water Mdc Res 3 (Middlesex), Built in 1957, 82,000 daily crossings

Image via Shutterstock