Two parallel Cape Cod bridges, Sagamore Bridge and Bourne bridge are part of Biden’s 2024, 184-page campaign proposal, which includes a $350 million budget to implement a Bourne and Sagamore Bridge replacement. The two bridges are an integral part of summer life for Cape-goers, tourist transportation, and local agriculture. The bridges enable access to and from different towns in Cape Cod, but also during cranberry harvesting season. The bridges are integral to enabling farmers to transport their produce to other parts of Massachusetts.
Sagamore Bridge was built in 1935 and sits 1,408 feet above the Cape Cod Canal. It spans 616 feet of terror due to the dire need for replacement. Bourne Bridge was also built in 1935 and stretches 2,382 feet and sits 274 feet above sea level.
Sagamore Bridge replacement plan
The potential limited bridge access is already an issue for locals and is expected to be much worse come summer traffic. That is why Governor Maura Healey is eternally grateful for the $350 million proposal, as she noted in a statement:
The Cape Cod Canal Bridges Project is critical for Massachusetts’ communities and economy. I’m grateful to the Biden Administration for committing this $350 million down payment on the project, as well as Senators Warren and Markey and Congressman Keating for their leadership and partnership to secure this crucial investment. Our administration remains committed to working closely with our local, state and federal partners to see this through.
Unfortunately, the proposal is not a guarantee that this will happen, but there is no denying these two Massachusetts bridges are in dire need of a replacement. There is a lot of red tape to pass and approve any budget, but for future catalyzing these processes, the White House wrote in the document “the budget proposes authorizing the Corps to transfer ownership of these bridges to the Commonwealth, which would be responsible for their future operation and maintenance.”
In turn, this would give the state more authority in decision making on the replacement or renovation of these bridges.