Focus on Cape Cod Canal Bridge Builds

 "The Army Corps did a study which identified what's the most feasible economic solution to  the two current roadway bridges that are crossing the canal ... When they looked at it as economically feasible, they came back with 'It really doesn't make sense to invest a magnitude of money that's going to maintain a structure that's over 90 plus years old'... "

 — John Bechard
Deputy Chief Engineer for Project Development, Mass DOT

What is happening with the Cape Cod Canal bridges?

With both Cape Cod Canal bridges ready for replacement, the effort this fall focuses on completing an environmental impact statement and and funding Phase 1 construction at the Sagamore Bridge. Lower Cape News caught up with John Bechard, Deputy Chief Engineer for Project Development at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to learn the latest on the project.

Are the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges getting replaced?

Bechard says that the Army Corps of Engineers, which own and maintain the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, came to the conclusion that it made no economic sense to invest in 90-plus year-old metal and concrete.  This triggered a planning process to find alternatives and yes, the bridges will be replaced.

What will replace the current bridges?

The planning process continues, but but at this point the collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Army Corp of Engineers identifies building four new bridges and re-configuring all the local roads around the new traffic flow.

Two of the new bridges will send traffic west off the Cape, while the other two new bridges will send traffic east onto Cape Cod. There will be two lanes of travel on each bridge, along with a separated pedestrian and bicycle path and proper highway shoulders along the traffic lanes.  The two Sagamore replacement bridges will be to the south side of the current bridge, while the two Bourne replacements bridges will be to the north side of the current bridge. In addition, a long merge lane will run into Route 6, giving traffic a safer path.

Who will own the new bridges?

The state and Army Corp of Engineers have an MOU under which Mass DOT will own and maintain the new bridges as it does the highways leading onto and off of the bridges

What is happening this fall?

Originally, the state hoped for funding to take on both bridges and all the interconnections at the same time, but this was not approved by the federal government. Instead, the state has resubmitted a phased plan, which funds and constructs the Sagamore Bridge as first stage. It hopes to hear on the federal funds by early 2024. The federal government ha also asked for a full environmental impact statement and work on that is also under way this fall..