Cape Cod Canal Bridges Program

Bourne Bridge Maintenance Work: Beginning September 18, 2023, vehicle travel over the bridge will be reduced from the current two lanes in each direction to a single 12-foot-wide lane in each direction as roadway and bridge structural repairs are conducted. Lane restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day until the project is completed, and police details will be on site when work is being performed to assist with traffic. Additional information is provided in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers news release.

The Cape Cod Canal Bridges Program will include the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, as well as improvements to the approach roadway networks to address the multimodal deficiencies within the Cape Cod Canal area. The bridge’s structural deficiencies, substandard bridge and roadway design, and traffic operations are described in the Program's Purpose and Need Statement.

To sign up to receive program updates please visit: tiny.cc/CapeCodProgramSub.

For more information on the program please visit the MassDOT program website: https://www.mass.gov/cape-bridges.

Outreach

Consistent with the Program's Public Involvement Plan, a number of meeting and outreach events have been held to engage and inform that public.

In-Person Open House (May 17, 2023)

An in-person Cape Bridges Program Open House was hosted by MassDOT at Bourne Veteran’s Memorial Community Center on May 17, 2023 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m. At the Open House, an update was provided on the Cape Cod Bridges Program. The event included information on the Environmental Notification Form, the status of the Program, interchange alternatives, potential bridge locations and lane configurations, maps of the Program Area, and next steps.

Open House Meeting Materials

Advisory Group Meeting 1

MassDOT has convened an Advisory Group comprised of local interests and representation to provide feedback and share information with the Program team throughout Program development. The first meeting of the Advisory Group was held on May 16, 2023.

Advisory Group Meeting Presentation, May 16, 2023

Round 5 Public Engagement Public Meetings

MassDOT held public meetings on March 22, 2023 (Bourne Bridge focus) and March 29, 2023 (Sagamore Bridge focus) to providing the public with updates on the proposed Cape Cod Bridges Program. MassDOT will presented on the status of the Program, interchange alternatives, and next steps. Each meeting will focused on one bridge.

Round 4 Public Engagement Public Meetings

MassDOT held public meetings on January 24, 2023 and January 26, 2023 to provide the public with updates on the proposed Cape Cod Bridges Program. MassDOT presented on the status of the Program, bridge types, proposed bridge lane configurations, potential bridge locations, and next steps.

Round 3 Public Engagement Public Meetings

MassDOT held meetings on November 15, 2022 and November 17, 2022 to provide the public with updates on the proposed Cape Cod Bridges Program. The Program team presented updates on the status of the program bridge types under consideration and next steps.

Round 2 Public Engagement Public Meetings

MassDOT held meetings on November 16, 2021 and November 18, 2021 to discuss the draft purpose and need, draft measures of effectiveness, and draft analyses.

Round 1 Public Engagement Public Meetings

MassDOT held meetings on June 29, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to discuss the field investigations data collection, regional transportation improvement needs, and program scope and timeline.

Recent Studies and Agreements

Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Bourne and Sagamore Bridges - MassDOT/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

LINK: Press Release on MOU

The MOU will guide the partnership between the state and federal agencies in the replacement of the two Cape Cod Canal Bridges, which are owned and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. USACE will continue to be responsible for ownership, operation and maintenance of the existing bridges until replacement bridges are built and operational. MassDOT and USACE will work together to plan, permit, fund, construct, demolish and transfer ownership of two new Cape Cod Canal Bridges built to current Federal Highway and MassDOT standards.

MassDOT Cape Cod Canal Transportation Study

LINK: Final Report

MassDOT's Cape Cod Canal Transportation Study, completed in October 2019, was launched to identify existing and future multimodal transportation deficiencies and needs around the Cape Cod Canal area. This conceptual planning study's findings provide recommendations for improving multimodal connectivity and reliability across the Canal.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cape Cod Canal Bridges Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Study

LINK: Final Report

The purpose of the study was to determine whether major rehabilitation or replacement of the Bourne and/or Sagamore Highway Bridges would provide the most reliable, fiscally responsible solution for the future. The Study culminated in the Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report (MRER), which was published in March 2020.