Maine bridge conditions
2,542 inventoried bridges · 392 rated poor · county by county
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- 392 of Maine's 2,542 inventoried bridges are rated in poor condition (15.4%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 637 bridges (25.1%) are rated good and 1,513 (59.5%) fair.
- The national poor rate is about 6.7%; Maine is above it (see all states ranked).
- The busiest poor-rated bridge in the state is I 295 NB over Route 88 (lafayette St) in Cumberland County, carrying about 27,320 vehicles a day.
By the measure that matters most - the most traffic on a poor rating - it is I 295 NB over Route 88 (lafayette St) in Cumberland County, built 1959, carrying about 27,320 vehicles a day. That is a repair-priority flag, not a collapse warning: what a poor rating does and does not mean. See the worst bridge in every state.
Good 25.1% · Fair 59.5% · Poor 15.4% of 2,542 bridges
Bridge conditions by county
Sorted by the number of poor-rated bridges. Click any county for its full bridge list.
| County | Bridges | Rated poor | Poor % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County | 317 | 60 | 18.9% |
| Oxford County | 253 | 45 | 17.8% |
| Somerset County | 173 | 40 | 23.1% |
| Cumberland County | 344 | 35 | 10.2% |
| Franklin County | 129 | 29 | 22.5% |
| Aroostook County | 231 | 27 | 11.7% |
| Kennebec County | 190 | 24 | 12.6% |
| York County | 236 | 22 | 9.3% |
| Washington County | 111 | 22 | 19.8% |
| Androscoggin County | 136 | 17 | 12.5% |
| Hancock County | 69 | 17 | 24.6% |
| Piscataquis County | 80 | 17 | 21.2% |
| Waldo County | 92 | 15 | 16.3% |
| Knox County | 54 | 9 | 16.7% |
| Lincoln County | 63 | 7 | 11.1% |
| Sagadahoc County | 64 | 6 | 9.4% |
The 25 busiest poor-rated bridges in Maine
Frequently asked questions
How many bridges in Maine are in poor condition?
392 of Maine's 2,542 inventoried highway bridges are rated in poor condition (15.4%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory. 'Poor' is FHWA's classification for a bridge whose deck, superstructure, or substructure is rated 4 or lower on the 0-9 scale; it was formerly called 'structurally deficient'.
Are the poor-rated bridges in Maine safe to drive on?
A poor rating flags advanced deterioration that needs repair or close monitoring; it does not by itself mean a bridge is unsafe. Bridges judged unsafe are closed or restricted to lighter loads by the owner. Inspections continue on all open bridges, generally at least every 24 months under the National Bridge Inspection Standards.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 vintage, reported by the Maine DOT.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.