Congressional lawmakers secure funding granted to state through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Washington (July 12, 2024) – After years of advocacy and legislation, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), and Governor Maura Healey today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Army Corps of Engineers a $993 million grant for the replacement of the Sagamore Bridge under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Bridge Investment Program. In total, $1.7 billion in federal funding will go toward replacing the Sagamore Bridge, as part of the broader Cape Cod Bridges Replacement Program.

“Today is a momentous day for the Cape, the Islands, and all of Massachusetts. The Sagamore and Bourne Bridges are the gateway to the Cape, and this federal funding is the missing piece to replace the Sagamore Bridge and launch Phase One of the project to replace both bridges,” said Senator Markey. “Replacing these aging bridges will bring immense economic, environmental, and social benefits to the region and the entire Commonwealth. Securing these funds is the result of strong partnership with Governor Healey, Senator Warren, Congressman Keating, and the Biden administration. This grant demonstrates that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering for Massachusetts and the entire country.”

“Massachusetts just hit a billion dollar home run to start replacing the Cape Cod Bridges. Two years ago, we had zero dollars in funding for these bridges,” said Senator Warren. “Now, thanks to my work with Senator Markey, Representative Keating, Governor Healey, and the rest of the delegation, we have over $2 billion in state and federal funds to replace these bridges for our Cape Cod communities.”

“From my first day in office, replacing the Cape Cod Bridges has been one of my top priorities for our region, and this grant is the culmination of over a decade of that work,” said Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09). “The question is no longer about how to fund the replacement of the Sagamore Bridge but when shovels will go in the ground to build it. The new Sagamore Bridge will be more than just a connection between two sides of the Canal, it is a lifeline for the quarter of a million people who live on Cape Cod and the economic driver that brings workers and tourists back and forth every day. This was a highly competitive grant application process that Senator Warren, Senator Markey and myself have worked tirelessly on to get to today, and we cannot discount the impact of Governor Healey’s leadership and the full-throated support of the entire Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to get this done.”

“This is a game-changing award for Massachusetts. We’ve never been closer to rebuilding the Cape Cod Bridges than we are right now. This funding will be critical for getting shovels in the ground,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We promised the people of Massachusetts that we were going to bring home this funding and get these bridges built – and we’re delivering. I’m grateful for the partnership of the Biden-Harris administration, Senators Markey and Warren, and Congressman Keating, which made this all possible.”  

In 2020, the Army Corps released its report concluding that constructing new bridges would improve travel, safety, and accessibility to and from the Cape. Following this report, the lawmakers worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide additional funds to replace the Bridges, including $5 billion for the Mega program, $11 billion in new funding for the Corps, and more than $9 billion in formula funds for Massachusetts. The lawmakers then convened meetings with key federal, state, and local leaders in January and April 2022 to coordinate efforts to replace the Bridges.

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