Massachusetts Secures Nearly $1 Billion in Federal Funding for Cape Cod Bridge Replacement

Massachusetts has secured a significant milestone in its efforts to replace the aging bridges connecting Cape Cod to the rest of the state. Governor Maura Healey announced on Friday that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have successfully secured nearly $1 billion in additional federal funding for the construction of replacement spans over the Cape Cod Canal.

This funding, part of a bipartisan bridge investment program, brings the total federal funding secured for the project to almost $1.72 billion, in addition to the $700 million in state funding pledged by the Healey administration. The total cost estimated for replacing both bridges is around $4.5 billion.

Governor Healey expressed her excitement about the awarded funding, stating that it is a game-changer for Massachusetts and brings the state closer than ever to rebuilding the Cape Cod Bridges. The bridges, currently owned and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, are considered structurally deficient, functionally obsolete, and reaching the end of their usable life.

The project will focus on replacing the Sagamore Bridge first before transitioning to the Bourne Bridge. Once completed, the state’s transportation department will take over the ownership, maintenance, and operation of the new bridges. The construction of both bridges began in 1933, and it is estimated that the project will create around 9,000 construction jobs.

Massachusetts had previously secured substantial federal funding for the bridge replacement project, including $372 million from the Federal Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program last year and an additional $350 million from the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act.

Governor Healey affirmed that her administration will continue to seek federal support for future phases of the bridge project, including the replacement of the Bourne Bridge. U.S. Representative Bill Keating, whose district includes Cape Cod, described the latest federal grant as the culmination of more than a decade of work, emphasizing the importance of the bridges as a vital connection for residents, workers, and tourists.

The new Sagamore Bridge is set to feature wider lanes, rapid bus transit, and improved bicycle and pedestrian access, while the Bourne Bridge will include a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians. With the looming maintenance concerns of the existing bridges, the funding secured marks a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and reliability of these critical transportation links.