Warren, Markey Urge U.S. Army Corps To Replace Cape Cod Bridge

BARNSTABLE, MA — Three members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials urging them to replace the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. The New England branch of the Corps released a study arguing the 85-year-old bridges are "functionally obsolete," and the safest and most cost effective way to deal with the issue is to replace them. But Senators Edward Markey, Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. William Keating are worried the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers might elect to repair the bridges instead.

The concern came after Markey and Keating held a meeting with the Corps earlier this month. During the meeting, Corp officials told Markey and Keating the option of rehabilitating the bridges rather than replacing them was still being considered by the Corps' national leadership. After the meeting, Markey and Keating met with Warren and sent a joint letter to the Corps national headquarters Tuesday.

"We are concerned by the possibility discussed that the USACE’s national headquarters may still choose to repair and rehabilitate the existing Canal bridges rather than build two new structures as the USACE’s New England District previously recommended," the joint letter read.

U.S. Army Corps officials estimated the cost to replace the two bridges to be about $1.1 billion. Other options considered included building a third and adding additional traffic lanes to both bridges.That report still needs to be finalized, and then the Corps will make a decision on replacement. But the delegation members argued replacing the bridges is the only real solution.

"Replacing both the Bourne and Sagamore is not only the best solution for the Cape and Islands, it is the only viable long-term solution for the nearly 250,000 residents and businesses of the region who rely on this vital connection to the rest of Massachusetts," the letter read. "We urge you to adopt the recommendation of the USACE’s New England District: full replacement of both Canal Bridges."

The Corps is expected to make a decision in February.