The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) stated in a press release that a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) application requesting $1.9 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration Bridge Investment Program was denied. The money would have been used toward replacing Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, which are federally owned. According to the press release, the funding request would have covered 47 percent of the total cost of almost $4 billion for “design and construction activities.”
The first round of funding came through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the release, and awarded $2.1 billion to four bridge projects, including the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in Connecticut, which carries Interstate 95 between New London and Groton.
“The Cape Cod Bridges are federal assets, and the responsibility to replace them lies with the USACE and the federal government. The Baker-Polito administration is disappointed that this latest funding application has been denied,” MassDOT spokesperson Jacquelyn Goddard said in the release, underscoring how much work the administration and state legislators put into advocating for the bridges to be replaced. “MassDOT will continue to pursue every possible avenue to support the USACE’s efforts to secure federal discretionary funds to replace the bridges,” according to the statement.
The release states that MassDOT and USACE “have been actively working together on plans to replace the federally owned Bourne and Sagamore Bridges.” This included a Cape Cod Bridges working group that began in 2017 and, more recently, information sessions about replacing the bridges. According to the release, the two bridges “provide the only roadway connection on and off Cape Cod for the 263,000 residents of the Cape and Islands, as well as the 5 million annual visitors.” The bridge projects are currently in phase one, which includes data collection, such as environmental conditions and traffic patterns, and public outreach and involvement efforts. In phase two, “based on public input, MassDOT will develop and refine bridge and roadway options.”
What exactly has Rep. Keating done for us lately other than feed at the trough of taxpayer’s money? On top of his roughly $174,000 a year congressional salary he has enjoyed a state pension of of around $115,000 a year for over a decade. I’d have no problem with this if he actually did something for his constituents. Let’s not forget Senators Markey and Warren who pretend to have national clout yet can’t even get a couple of bridges built!
John– Sorry, but the federal government under trump spent all your hard earned taxpayer dollars on a wall. $15 billion in fact.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/12/09/trump-spent-15-billion-on-border-wall-but-skimped-on-vaccines/?sh=4fc4958d6a9d
And that wall was breached over 4,000 times in 2022. More than double the number before trump started building his “impenetrable wall ”
https://www.cato.org/blog/border-wall-was-breached-11-times-day-2022-2
So I guess we’re pretty lucky that regime didn’t build bridges.
Perhaps Markey has enough moral fortitude to not “bribe” federal officials with offers of support for projects he doesn’t agree with.
And just one more thing to the people who want a bridge to the Vineyard.
The Bourne and Sagamore bridges are collectively are less than 3/4 of a mile , with existing access on both sides, and going across a relatively easy span. For an “estimated” $4 billion.
What town on the cape do you think would allow a new highway to be built, at what cost, and where would it be permitted to land on the Vineyard, at what cost ? And then there is the actual cost of the bridge itself at a minimum of of 3.5 miles, with an arch that would allow large ships to pass under.
And then we could talk about real traffic on the island.
The government waste our tax dollars all day long. Unfortunately, it is a very sad reality for the American taxpayers that are constantly asked to “give a little more” every time they turn around. You obviously are obsessed with hating DT. He was attempting to minimize the overflow of illegal immigrants into this country by building the obvious which is a barrier. People can breach a wall if it is not completed and that goes without saying. It was never finished. By the way, I have locked doors on my home and have still been violated numerous times. No guarantees there either. As far as the 2 stories that you shared, both writers are proven water holders for the Democratic Party which is fine but do you think that being a bit bias may have something to do with the slant on the articles? Just saying. Respectfully, I read your comments often for the entertainment of it and I just suggest that you be kinder and think outside the box just a little bit. It is liberating.
We could start at there is no need for the size of the current bridges on the canal at all anymore. Commercial barges and tankers don’t have large masts anymore and need the height. But the point is our elected representatives , all Democrats, have no clout in DC. New bridges are needed and we have complete losers representing us.
Don — Which google do you read all day??? FYI we all have our own search engines and do not need a constant stream of the crap you somehow manage to unearth.
It is unfathomable to most of us why the Times continues to print the same stuff from the same people. Over and over and over.
Someone in Washington is watching and making sure this blue state dosen’t recieve back a higher percentage of federal tax dollars than we pay in. The exodus of federal tax dollars from blue states to red states is common knowledge, nice deal for the folk in red states that seem to think we are in league with the devil yet we send them or tax dollars.
Just a couple of thoughts. Where did the Washington trillions go? (check the “purple” states). And, do you think maybe you should try voting for people running for federal office who don’t have a D next to their name. Sounds like the MA voters are being taken for granted.
Just saying.