Background
In coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), MassDOT is undertaking the Cape Cod Bridges Program to address identified transportation-related needs within the town of Bourne, including the structural, geometric, and operational deficiencies of the Cape Cod Canal highway bridges, the immediate mainline approaches and their adjacent interchanges and intersections; severe peak period traffic congestion and higher than average crash rates; and lack of accessible bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and connections between existing facilities.
The purpose of the Program is to improve cross-canal mobility and accessibility between Cape Cod and mainland Massachusetts for all road users and to address the increasing maintenance needs and functional obsolescence of the aging Cape Cod Canal highway bridges.
The Program proposes the following critical transportation infrastructure improvements within the town of Bourne:
- Replacement of the existing Sagamore and Bourne Highway Bridges, which are owned, operated, and maintained by the USACE
- Reconfiguration of the highway approach networks north and south of the Cape Cod Canal to align with the replacement highway bridges, and
- Construction of new accessible pedestrian and bicycle connections to the local roadway network.
The below image shows the Program Study Area, which consists of two smaller Program Study Areas around the Sagamore and Bourne bridges and their immediate highway networks.
As detailed below, the Program draws from prior studies, including the USACE’s March 2020 Cape Cod Canal Highway Bridges Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report/Environmental Assessment (MRER/EA) and MassDOT’s October 2019 Cape Cod Canal Transportation Study, for addressing the deteriorating performance of the Bourne and Sagamore Highway Bridges and the multimodal transportation deficiencies of the surrounding approach roadway networks. The MRER/EA is the foundational document for the Program.
On July 7, 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was executed between MassDOT and the USACE regarding the replacement of the Cape Cod Canal bridges. Under this MOU, the USACE will continue to own, operate, and maintain the existing Bourne and Sagamore Bridges until the new bridges are placed into service. MassDOT will lead the design and construction efforts with the responsibility to own, operate, and maintain the two new bridges.
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning (OTP) Cape Cod Canal Transportation Study
MassDOT's Cape Cod Canal Transportation Study, completed in October 2019, was launched to identify existing and future multimodal transportation deficiencies, and needs around the Cape Cod Canal area. This conceptual planning study's findings provide recommendations for improving multimodal connectivity and reliability across the Canal.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Major Rehabilitation Evaluation (MRE) Study
The purpose of the study was to determine whether major rehabilitation or replacement of the Bourne and/or Sagamore Highway Bridges would provide the most reliable, fiscally responsible solution for the future. The Study culminated in the Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report (MRER) which was published in March 2020.
USACE decision
On April 3, 2020, an official decision was made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to replace the current Sagamore and Bourne bridges with two new bridges built to modern day standards.
Please note, MassDOT has evaluated this recommendation in our own public process.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MassDOT and the USACE
On July 7, 2020 an MOU was executed between MassDOT and the USACE regarding the Sagamore and Bourne bridges. The bullets below outline the commitments of the MOU in the event that the bridges are replaced.
USACE will:
- Own, operate and maintain the existing bridges until Program completion.
- Share information, provide technical support and facilitate transfer of ownership of the bridges to MassDOT.
MassDOT will:
- Lead program delivery to complete the feasibility study and alternatives analysis, preliminary design and environmental permitting process, and conduct bridge construction.
- Own, operate, and maintain the completed bridges and approaches.
Program team
The Program team is the key decision-making body regarding Program development and includes representatives from the following groups:
- MassDOT
- Program Managers
- Communications Office
- Legislative Affairs Office
- Highway Administrator’s Office
- District 5 Office
- Environmental Services
- Federal Highway Administration
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Consultant design and public involvement staff
