Cape business coalition urges speedy replacement of Sagamore and Bourne bridges, warns of big economic risk

Paul Niedzwiecki, president and CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and a lead of the Cape and Islands Bridge Coalition, told the Mashpee Select Board on April 6 that both the Sagamore and Bourne bridges are aging federal assets and should be prioritized for replacement to avoid catastrophic economic disruption.

"The bridges are nearly 90 years old," Niedzwiecki said, noting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns and operates the structures and that a 2020 Corps report recommended replacement after studying alternatives. He told the board the replacement program certified by the Federal Highway Administration is roughly $4.5 billion for both bridges, about $2.25 billion apiece.

Niedzwiecki said funding for the Sagamore Bridge is largely in place — including more than $1 billion in federal support — and that Sagamore is about 25% through design. "Once they hire a contractor, we could see construction start within 12 months," he said, adding that approaches and final connections may extend the work into the early 2030s. By contrast, he said, the Bourne Bridge currently lacks identified funding.

The presentation summarized safety and planning work: a 2024 memorandum between the Army Corps and the Commonwealth indicating the state would assume ownership when replaced; a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to evaluate vessel‑strike risk; and an ongoing environmental review covering both spans. Niedzwiecki described closure scenarios explored by regional planners: a major rehabilitation could require a six‑month full shutdown with long lane closures, while an unplanned emergency closure might keep a bridge shut for two to five years.

Using monetized estimates from regional studies, he warned of wide-ranging impacts if either bridge were to be fully closed: steep increases in traveler delay costs, lost tourism and short‑term rental revenue, and a potential contraction in local tax revenues. "If either of these bridges were required to be completely closed for even 6 months, we would lose a third of our economy," he said, framing replacement as essential to the Cape's economic stability.

Niedzwiecki also described public outreach the coalition has done: a poll of more than 400 registered voters in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties that he said found 86% of respondents supported MassDOT’s current replacement plan and that two‑thirds of respondents ranked bridge replacement as a top priority for leaders.

Board members asked about mitigation plans and day‑to‑day traffic effects during construction, including seasonal considerations for the tourism period. Niedzwiecki said MassDOT has been receptive and that contractors plan significant offsite or adjacent construction so major traffic interruptions would be concentrated at key connection points; he added MassDOT may schedule more night work and try to minimize disruptions on peak holiday dates but that strict seasonal pauses could lengthen project timelines.

The presentation closed with a recommendation that the Commonwealth and the Army Corps prioritize objectives, funding and mitigation and involve local stakeholders in planning. Niedzwiecki emphasized the coalition’s role as a community voice to follow both projects through design, funding and construction.

The board took no formal action on the presentation but asked follow‑up questions about traffic mitigation, archaeological and litigation risks and the near‑term schedule for Sagamore.