Federal Government Awards $372 Million For Sagamore Bridge Replacement
The federal government announced last Friday, December 15, that it has awarded the state $372 million for rebuilding Cape Cod’s aging bridges across the Cape Cod Canal. Though the state still has an outstanding application for more than $1 billion in federal funding for the bridges, the governor’s office sees this award as a major success and a crucial step forward in replacing the bridges.
“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,” Governor Maura T. Healey said in a December 15 announcement about the award.
The money will go toward the replacement of the Sagamore Bridge while the state works on securing the necessary funds for the rebuilding of the Bourne Bridge, Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll said.
The state has also applied for $1.06 billion in federal funding from the Bridge Investment Program Large Bridge Project Program of the US Department of Transportation, the announcement said. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the US Army Corps of Engineers applied jointly. The funds, if awarded, would go toward the replacement of the Sagamore Bridge.
According to Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey, the $372 million award “will support our second highly competitive application for federal funding to move this project forward.”
The governor’s office has also set aside $262 million for the replacement of the bridges in its capital investment plan for the next four years, “with the goal of ramping up to Governor Healey’s $700 million total long-term commitment,” the press release said.
Another $350 million is set aside for the bridges in President Joseph R. Biden’s budget proposal, which has the support of the US Senate Appropriations Committee, the press release says.
“We look forward to continuing our whole-of-government approach to compete for federal funding for Cape Cod,” Mr. Palfrey said.
The announcement was widely celebrated by officials, even prompting a joint statement from US Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and US Representative William R. Keating (D-MA). All three have advocated for an allotment of federal funding for the replacement of the Cape Cod Canal bridges and said they were pleased following last week’s announcement.
“This funding is a critical downpayment 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 joint statement read. “We are proud to have worked extensively to help secure this funding, and we commend the Healey administration for its leadership in ushering in a new era for the bridges. With this grant, the Biden administration is further demonstrating that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering for Massachusetts and the entire country.”
Calli Remillard contributed to reporting for this article.