Barnstable, MA: A coalition of more than 35 business and community leaders has announced the formation of the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition (CIBC), with the objective to advocate for full funding and replacement of both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges that span the Cape Cod Canal.
The group, which met for the first time on Tuesday, May 7th, is committed to supporting efforts to replace both aging bridges to ensure the future economic viability and community needs for Cape Cod & the Islands.
The CIBC was formed by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce in response to business and community concerns related to the nearly 90-year-old Cape Cod bridges. Together, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges function as a critical transportation system, providing the only vehicle access points for 230,000 year-round residents, more than 8,500 businesses, and over 5 million annual visitors.
Both bridges are approaching the end of their serviceable lifespan and are considered functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. If not replaced, the bridges will soon require major rehabilitation work, leading to months-long lane restrictions and bridge closures. A complete closure of either bridge would result in an unprecedented disruption to the regional economy.
Federal officials and the Healey-Driscoll Administration have been successful in securing grants and other funding toward a new Sagamore Bridge, and plans are underway to begin construction in 2028. However, officials have not yet defined a timeline or funding plan for the Bourne Bridge. The CIBC will work to ensure that both bridges are replaced in a timely and fiscally responsible way while minimizing adverse impacts on the regional community and businesses.
“For more than a decade, the Cape Cod Chamber has been a leader in advocating for replacement of the Cape Cod bridges,” said Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. “State and federal leaders have been instrumental in identifying funding to move these projects forward, but many hurdles remain. Through the CIBC, the Chamber and other regional leaders aim to serve as an ongoing resource for decision-makers, following the replacement process for both bridges from start to finish.”
About the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition
The Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition (CIBC) is comprised of 35+ representatives from major employers, civic groups, and professional organizations across Cape Cod, the Islands, the South Shore, and Greater Boston. Modeled after the Boston-based A Better City organization and their work on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, the CIBC was formed in 2024 to ensure that both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges Cape Cod bridges are replaced in a timely and fiscally responsible way while minimizing adverse impacts on the regional community and businesses. More information and a list of members is available on the Cape Cod Chamber website at https://www.capecodchamber.org/members/public-policy-and-advocacy/transportation-and-infrastructure/.
About the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1922, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is a non-profit, membership-based organization that advocates on behalf of businesses to strengthen and promote regional economic vitality while addressing related cultural, environmental and community concerns. The Chamber serves as Cape Cod’s Regional Tourism Council and supports economic and business development region wide. Visit www.capecodchamber.org to learn more.
