The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced it has filed the draft Environmental Impact Report for the Cape Cod Bridges project.
The filing of the DEIR with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office is a major step in the advancement of the bridge replacement project. The document includes proposed decisions to extend the construction of Sandwich Road safety improvements, including a shared use path to the Gallo Ice Arena, in response to residents’ and local officials’ requests. MassDOT officials said the extended length of the path will provide a safe travel options for bicyclists and pedestrians for the Upper Caper Cod Technical High School to the arena.
“Today, we took one big step forward toward rebuilding the Cape Cod bridges,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said. “Our administration has been focused on delivering this project from day one, working hard to secure billions in funding, preparing the necessary design and environmental documents, and engaging with the community every step of the way. I’m proud of our MassDOT team for their continued progress on this critical project and grateful for our local, state and federal partners for making this possible.”
Officials said the DEIR will be available for the public to review through Sept. 10. MassDOT requested an extension of the public comment period from 30 to 44 days to ensure there is sufficient time for the public to review and comment on the document.
“The filing of state environmental documents marks a major step forward as our team continues to work to replace these vital structures while protecting Cape Cod’s natural, cultural, and historic resources,” Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said. “We are committed to advancing replacement of the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge and ensuring the Healey-Driscoll’s vision for a safe, multi-modal, modern, and resilient transportation future for the region.”