U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) recently sent a letter to Jamey L. Tesler, acting secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) urging the agency to take the necessary steps to obtain funding for the Cape Cod Bridges project.
The lawmakers also urged MassDOT to closely coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to submit a more competitive federal grant application. The project thus far has only been awarded a $1.6 million planning grant.
“The Bridges are vital assets for the Cape Cod economy and surrounding communities, but they are in desperate need of replacement,” the lawmakers said. “With more than 35 million vehicles crossing the canal each year, the bridges are also the sole access point for vehicular traffic to and from Cape Cod and serve as essential routes for general transportation, tourism, and evacuations in case of an emergency.”
The Corps released a report in 2020 concluding that constructing new bridges would be more cost-effective than rehabilitation.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provides Massachusetts with more than $9 billion in formula funds and the Corps with a more than $11 billion increase in funding for new construction projects.
The lawmakers met in January and April 2022 with MassDOT, the Corps, and the Federal Highway Administration to discuss the project.