BOSTON, MA — In a sign of continued momentum on the Cape Cod Bridges project, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Department of the Army and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to move forward on rebuilding the Sagamore Bridge. Under the agreement, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will transfer a previously appropriated $350 million in federal funding to the Federal Highway Administration. The FHWA Eastern Federal Lands Division will use the funds to construct a portion of the new Sagamore Bridge as part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) overall replacement project.
“We continue to make important progress in our efforts to rebuild both Cape Cod Bridges. After securing $1.72 billion in federal funding, we’re now moving forward with an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Army and the Federal Highway Administration that will allocate a crucial piece of that funding and allow us to begin construction on the Sagamore Bridge,” Governor Maura Healey said. “We’re grateful to our MassDOT team, as well as our Congressional delegation and federal partners for their continued partnership and commitment to delivering this project for the people of Massachusetts.”
“We understand how crucial this project is to the Cape Cod community and to the economic vitality of our entire state,” Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said. “[This] marks an important next step and brings us even closer to putting shovels in the ground.”
“This agreement is a critical milestone showing the strong collaboration across Massachusetts, the Army Corps, and USDOT [U.S. Department of Transportation] to keep Cape Cod connected to the state and region for generations to come,” Acting Federal Highway Administrator Kristin White said. “FHWA is proud to partner alongside U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Massachusetts DOT as we work hand-in-hand to deliver this vital transportation infrastructure.”
“This agreement is another critical step to benefit the people of Massachusetts and visitors who depend on safe, resilient, and modernized access to Cape Cod and the islands. It is a tremendous achievement to have reached this point in the plan to replace the Cape Cod bridges,” said Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “The effective partnerships between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, MassDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration has developed a solution that will serve this region for decades to come.”
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“The replacement of the Sagamore Bridge is a major investment in the future of Cape Cod and New England. The project will offer us a safer bridge, with more lanes and greater accessibility for the thousands of residents and visitors who rely on this route connection every day,” said Army Col. Justin Pabis, the Commanding Officer of USACE, New England District. “This collaboration between USACE, MassDOT and the FHWA marks our shared commitment to giving the Cape a modern and resilient bridge, capable of meeting the needs of tomorrow."
The new MOA will help to further the current plan to begin construction on the Cape. The Sagamore Project is Phase 1 of the Cape Cod Bridges Program, which will rebuild both the Sagamore and the Bourne Bridges while also making investments in other transportation infrastructure along the Cape Cod Canal and expanding travel options for all members of the public, including those who walk and bike.
The project will help to spur economic growth and development, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life for both the region and state. This project is critical to the Cape Cod economy, and the bridge will be a connector to other assets on a local, state, and national level.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has already secured a total of $1.72 billion in federal funding for the bridges replacement project. That includes $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) Bridge Investment Program and $372 million from the BIL’s Federal Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program. It also includes $350 million secured by the Congressional delegation for the bridges in the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which was signed by President Joe Biden. Healey has also pledged $700 million in state support.
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“This project has always been about partnership, and we thank the Healey Administration, the Congressional delegation, and the Biden-Harris Administration for their unwavering support and funding,” Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said. “We look forward to working with partners and stakeholders in the region to begin the next steps to making this project a reality.”
“The signing of the agreement is a crucial step for this transformational project,” MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said. “The MOA brings us another step closer to construction and beginning the necessary improvements this administration has committed to both the Cape Cod community and the Commonwealth as a whole.”
