Cape Cod bridge replacements planned

Important bridge replacement works are being planned for Cape Cod in the US state of Massachusetts. The ageing Bourne and Sagamore bridges will have to be replaced as they are no longer able to cope with current traffic levels.

The work is being planned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and will also include improvements to the surrounding roadway network. The project now looks likely to take longer than originally expected, boosting the cost of the works. An increase in materials prices has further contributed to the higher pricetag for the work.

The bridges were constructed in the 1930s and studies have shown that it would be less costly to replace them than repair them. The existing bridges are classed as ‘functionally obsolete’ and have to be replaced. The plans call for new bridges featuring two lanes in either direction, as well as a shoulder/emergency lane. There would also be facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Although the plans have to be finalised, the new links are likely to feature tolls to help pay for the project.

Construction of the new Bourne and Sagamore bridges may be delayed until 2025 however. Until then, the US Army Corps of Engineers will maintain the existing structures, and will also eventually demolish them once they are no longer required.

When the two bridges were built, just 26,000 people lived on Cape Cod but the local population is now close to 220,000 and set to grow further.

The 727m long Bourne Bridge opened to traffic in 1935 and carries Route 28, while the 429m Sagamore bridge carries Route 6. Estimates suggest that traffic levels will increase 27% during the summer and 32% during the rest of the year, with the Sagamore Bridge carrying the majority of the vehicles.

The two structures are ageing and now have to be maintained regularly, with closures and traffic restrictions being common, further increasing journey times and queues for drivers.