The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has filed the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the replacement of two Cape Cod bridges with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office, moving a step closer to beginning construction.
The 90-year-old bridges slated for replacement – the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge – are considered functionally obsolete and unable to meet today’s travel demands, according to state officials. The new bridges will provide dedicated traffic lanes going in one direction on each bridge to reduce the risk of head-on collisions and accidents heading in opposing directions.
Construction on the $4.5 billion project is expected to begin in 2027.
The MEPA Office will accept public comments through Oct. 24, 2025, and expects a certificate on the draft on Oct. 31, 2025, according to MassDOT officials.
The DEIR will be available for public review through the Sept. 10 edition of the Environmental Monitor.
The new document includes a proposal to extend the construction of a 12-foot shared use path on Sandwich Road on the Bourne Bridge, providing a safe travel option for bicyclists and pedestrians from the Upper Cape Cod Technical High School to the Gallo Ice Arena, state officials said.
Responding to feedback from residents, plans also include reconfiguring the driveway to the Gallo Ice Arena, along with installing left-turn lanes to provide safe access to the arena. Median islands will also be implemented to manage vehicle speeds.
The bridges are owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The completed project will transfer ownership to MassDOT.
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