Cape Cod Bridges Program

Cape Cod Canal Bridges Program

The Cape Cod Bridges Program, overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will include the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, provide new connections to the local roadway network, and improve multimodal accommodations within the Cape Cod Canal area.  

The Critical Connection to Cape Cod 

Built in 1935, the Bourne and Sagamore bridges span the Cape Cod Canal and connect residents, businesses, and visitors on the Cape and Islands to the mainland. The bridges are essential for general transportation, freight, and tourism, and in an emergency are critical routes for evacuation. The bridges are the only connection to and from Cape Cod for vehicular traffic.

The nearly 90-year-old bridges are both considered “functionally obsolete” while the Bourne Bridge is rated in poor condition and the Sagamore Bridge is rated in fair condition by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and maintains both bridges. The Army Corps 2020 Cape Cod Canal Bridges Major Rehabilitation Report (MRER) concludes that replacement of the bridges is the most reliable, fiscally responsible solution.

What’s included in the new bridge design?

The preferred design includes two bridges at each crossing because they are more cost-effective, structurally efficient structures. This approach allows for staged construction while keeping two lanes of traffic operational in both directions and allowing all existing roadway connections to be maintained. The proposed new lanes will be wider to meet current highway standards and include two travel lanes in each direction with an additional entrance/exit lane to help maintain the flow of traffic. The new bridge design also includes a shared-use path and shoulders that will allow for emergency vehicle access. Other design details, including final bridge location and connections to local roadways, are still under development.

MassDOT presented updated renderings of the new bridge design during a meeting held in April 2024. 

Funding and Next Steps

One of the greatest challenges regarding the canal bridges replacement is funding. The state has allocated $350 million dollars to support this project and are actively pursuing a number of federal grants to cover the bulk of project costs. The state’s latest round of federal grant applications prioritizes funding for the Sagamore Bridge replacement as Phase 1 while maintaining a commitment to replace both bridges.

In January 2024 President Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the award of a $372 million federal grant through the National Infrastructure Project Assistance [Mega] program based on a grant submission by the Healey-Driscoll administration. MassDOT also submitted for $1.06 billion in grant funding through the Bridge Investment Program Large Bridge Project Program for replacement of the Sagamore Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal.

Total Estimated Program Costs: $4.5 Billion for replacement of both bridges including design, permitting, property acquisitions, construction, and contingencies for inflation. Average daily trips: 105,000

Next Steps: Project design, permitting, and community outreach will continue for the replacement of both bridges. The study team submitted initial environmental permit applications in early 2023, and more detailed analysis and federal permitting documents are under development.