Reprinted from WCVB
BOURNE, Mass.
The federal government is awarding $372 million in grant money toward the eventual replacement of the aging Sagamore and Bourne Bridges, which span the Cape Cod Canal.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly applied for the money from the U.S. Department of Transportation in August, shortly after Gov. Maura Healey announced her administration would take a phased approach to replacing the bridges.
Healey’s administration said they would use the money to start construction on a new Sagamore Bridge first while laying the groundwork for a future replacement of the Bourne Bridge.
On Friday, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Bill Keating announced the funding was approved.
“This funding is a critical down payment on the effort to replace the Sagamore and Bourne bridges and a recognition that replacing the aging bridges will bring immense economic, environmental, and social benefits to Cape Cod, the Islands, and the entire Commonwealth,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts is also awaiting a decision on a more recent application for another $1.06 billion for the Sagamore Bridge from the Bridge Investment Program’s Large Bridge Project Program.
“We are thrilled that our first application was a success, and we are optimistic that we are in a strong position to bring home the remaining funding,” Healey said.
