Boston (April 16, 2022) – This Wednesday, April 13, Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) held a meeting to discuss the Cape Cod Bridge Replacement Project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MA DOT) and other local, county and state officials. During the meeting, the federal delegation reviewed the billions of dollars available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that can be sued to fund the project. This includes the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $2.9 billion Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program, which can be applied for through May 23, 2022, and the new $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program. which was created by the IIJA and is expected to open for applications in May 2022. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and MA DOT discussed their ongoing partnership to seek federal funding opportunities, design and build the bridges, and engage communities across the Cap. The Cape State Legislative Delegation and community leaders highlighted key priorities including improving pedestrian and traffic safety, improving the highway on Route 3 and the importance of have an iconic deck design that reflects the beauty of Cape Cod.
“Today we renewed our vows to replace bridges on Cape Cod, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. With a richer pathway offered by the Infrastructure Investment and Employment Act, this meeting is just one more step in achieving an urgent infrastructure priority for Massachusetts – the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. We thank MassDOT, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Army Corps, and Federal Highways for their continued cooperation. This is our time, and we are confident that together we can achieve our ultimate goal of building two new bridges for the people of Cape Cod,” said Senator Markey.
“I am pleased to work alongside Senator Markey, the Massachusetts delegation and local leaders to advance the Cape Cod Bridge Replacement Project. I fought hard to secure federal funding for this project under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and I look forward to our continued collaboration to build these essential new bridges,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
“I am pleased to see that the federal government continues to work closely with our state and local partners on this important project. As the construction of the Cape Cod Canal bridges progresses, we must ensure that we continue this close communication so that the needs of the community are met. There is a long way ahead of us before the first passengers cross the new bridges, but I am proud of the work we have already done to lay a solid foundation for this project and I look forward to the day when we will see the new bridges completed”, said Representative Bill Keating (MA-09).
“The Baker-Polito administration appreciates the efforts of Senator Markey and the Massachusetts federal delegation to bring together local, state and federal stakeholders to continue to advance plans to replace the Bourne and Sagamore bridges,” said the Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act provides new resources to draw on for many Commonwealth infrastructure needs and the administration looks forward to continued engagement on the various components of the project, including working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to compete and obtain federal funding for the replacement. and the ultimate cession to the state of those assets owned by the federal government,” said Secretary Jamey Tessler.
“We are grateful for the continued collaboration and dialogue among our federal, state and elected officials to ensure this project provides a safe and reliable solution for the region,” said Col. John A. Atilano II, USACE New England District Commander. “This project is another example of the strong partnership we have with the Commonwealth, and in particular the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and we look forward to continued dialogue and cooperation in the months ahead.”
Built in 1935, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges span the Cape Cod Canal and connect the estimated 250,000 people of Cape Town and the islands to the rest of Massachusetts, serving as critical routes for general transportation, sightseeing and emergency evacuations. emergency. These structures are the only roads to and from Cape Cod for vehicular traffic.
The Cape Cod Canal Bridges are owned and maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. In April 2020, the Corps released a Major Rehabilitation Assessment Report (MRER) in which it recommended replacing the Cape Cod bridges with two entirely new structures at an estimated total cost of $1.6 billion. over 50 years. As a result of this report – in July 2020 – the Army Corps signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), which formalized a federal-state partnership to replace the two bridges of Cape Cod.
“I am delighted to join Senator Markey, Senator Warren and Congressman Keating along with state delegations from both sides of the canal in advancing the long overdue modernization of our iconic Bourne and Sagamore bridges, which will are both crucial escape routes. for the community, said Massachusetts State Senator Susan L. Moran.
“Thank you to Senator Markey for keeping us updated on Army Corp. and Mass DOT’s efforts to secure soon available funding for the Cape Cod Bridges and for being responsive to our request for improvements needed for Exit 3 in Plymouth”, said Plymouth State Representative Mathew Muratore. “Exit three in the Cedarville part of Plymouth is being used as a shortcut to these bridges and improvements to accommodate local and tourist traffic will be required.”
“These two bridges are almost 100 years old and will need a lot more preventative maintenance in the future. They are the lifeline of Cape Cod and the Islands. It is the responsibility of the federal government to provide adequate transportation of people and necessities of life for all of Cape Cod. For these reasons, we must support Senator Markey, Senator Warren and Congressmen Keating in their advocacy for funding to replace the two Canal Zone bridges,” said Peter J. Meier, chairman of the Bourne Board of Selectmen.
“Bourne and its villages are at ground zero, with both ends of our town’s two bridges affecting our daily lives. We embrace our city and are honored to welcome the canal and the bridges among us. We’ve been working around repairs and detours for some time. It’s amazing that safe replacements are within reach, for real,” said Judith Froman, vice-chairman of the board of Bourne Select. “Our greatest appreciation to Senator Markey for his bipartisan leadership in seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and for his commitment and preparation at all levels; federal to state to regional to local municipality. Respect for the readiness ensuring our successful financing to businesses that will be disrupted to landowners who will be displaced; everyone will and will be treated with respect to have a voice. Thank you.”
“As an elected representative of the people of Bourne, I appreciate Senator Markey’s update on the project to replace the bridges, which are so important to Bourne’s identity. I thank him for allowing local elected officials to weigh in on this project. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve Bourne’s surface roads near the bridges, but we know that such an opportunity raises many concerns for our residents, especially those who face unavoidable issues such as eminent domain and traffic patterns that may or may not be improved. Meetings like this help us help residents whose homes and lives will be directly affected by the project. Improved traffic flow around the bridges will benefit Bourne residents, visitors and passers-by. It is essential that the competing interests of these segments of the population be recognized,” mentioned George Slade, Bourne Board of Selectmen.
“The replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges is a once-in-a-century investment in the Cape Cod region. The Cape Cod Commission commends Senator Markey and our federal delegation for their dedicated efforts to focus attention and resources on one of the region’s greatest infrastructure needs, critical to the long-term viability of our economy. and the vitality of our communities,” mentioned Kristy Senatori, Executive Director, Cape Cod Commission.
“Bridges physically connect Cape Cod to the rest of the world. Replacing these structural icons has been a major political issue for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and we are grateful for the leadership of our elected officials from Cape Cod, Boston and Washington who are making this infrastructure investment possible,” said Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
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