The Biden administration awarded Massachusetts practically $400 million Friday to exchange one of many Cape Cod bridges deemed “functionally obsolete” and now not assembly the wants of the touring public.
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating mentioned the federal Department of Transportation accredited an software from the state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $372 million to begin changing the Sagamore Bridge.
“This funding is a critical down payment 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 trio mentioned in a press release.
Both the practically 90-year-old Bourne and Sagamore Bridges are the one roadways main onto Cape Cod, and a March 2020 report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discovered the “most cost effective” technique of offering protected and dependable crossings can be offering two new freeway bridges.
State and federal lawmakers have lengthy sought federal funding to exchange the growing old buildings, and Gov. Maura Healey mentioned the cash awarded this week was a “huge win” for Massachusetts. The Healey administration this 12 months has utilized for $1.45 billion in federal funding to exchange the bridges.
“Our administration said from day one that we were going to compete aggressively for federal funding to bring home to support crucial infrastructure projects in Massachusetts, like the Cape Cod Bridges project,” she mentioned in a press release.
More cash might be on the best way. A U.S. Senate appropriations invoice this 12 months included $350 million for the mission, cash that was additionally included in President Joe Biden’s price range proposal. Additional grant functions are nonetheless pending.
Officials have estimated the fee to exchange each bridges stretches as much as $4.5 billion, and a report ready earlier this 12 months by Warren, Markey, and Keating steered not upgrading the bridges can be “catastrophic.”
“The current condition of the bridges is untenable, and without replacements, problems will only grow,” the October report mentioned.
Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt mentioned the $372 million is “key” to the general effort to exchange the bridges.
“We could not be happier for this award, which is essential for supporting the economy of Cape Cod and surrounding communities and ensuring safe and reliable travel for residents, workers, and millions of annual visitor,” Tibbits-Nutt mentioned in a press release. “It presents a powerful opportunity to modernize the design to improve safety, mobility, and resiliency; increase economic vitality; and improve access through better pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”