HYANNIS, MA: Representatives from nearly fifty business and community organizations gathered on June 3 to hear updates on the Cape Cod Bridges replacement effort and discuss impacts of the aging Sagamore and Bourne Bridges on Cape Cod’s regional economy. State and local officials presented to the group, known as the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition (CIBC), at their quarterly meeting.
The Cape Cod Commission recently conducted an economic impact study that revealed the economic consequences for the region if both bridges are not replaced urgently. The study shows in a worst-case scenario, an unplanned closure of either bridge could result in catastrophic impacts to the regional economy, including:
- More than 55,000 members of the regional workforce would be effectively unable to commute to their jobs
- Nearly 10,000 regional businesses would suffer estimated revenue losses of $347 million due to increased labor and operating costs
- Up to $1.4 billion in tourism spending and as much as $557 million in short-term rental revenue would be lost
- Tax revenue from the region would take a $254 million hit
The CIBC was formed in early 2024, under the leadership of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, to address business and community concerns related to routine bridge maintenance and the critically needed replacement of both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges. Membership of the CIBC is reflective of major industry areas and employers across Cape Cod and the Islands, as well as state-level business and labor organizations. Since convening, the CIBC has met regularly with state and federal officials in Washington, D.C. and on Beacon Hill to convey the urgency of replacing both bridges. The CIBC has also begun efforts to conduct bridges-related public opinion polls and independent research to aid decision-makers as work on the bridges replacement project moves forward.
Presentations at the June quarterly meeting of the CIBC included recent developments on project permitting and design from Luisa Paiewonsky, Executive Director of Megaprojects Delivery for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and an update on bridges-related gas line relocations from Melissa Sherburne, Senior Advisor of Stakeholder Relations for Enbridge.
Earlier this year, the CIBC collaborated with the Cape Cod & Islands Association of Realtors to conduct a poll of registered voters living in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties. The poll showed that 86% of residents support the current replacement plan for the Sagamore and Bourne 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. The bridges, which see combined total crossings of 38 million vehicles each year, 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 unprecedented impacts to the regional economy and way of life on Cape Cod and the Islands.
While state and federal officials have made progress toward funding a new Sagamore Bridge, no funding has yet been identified for the replacement of the Bourne Bridge. The urgent replacement of both bridges is critical for preserving the vitality of the entire Cape Cod region.
“The Cape Cod Canal bridges are not just infrastructure — they are lifelines for our residents, visitors, workforce, and economy. Delays in their replacement risk an economic disruption that could take a generation to overcome,” said Paul Niedzwiecki, Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the CIBC. “Through the Cape and Islands Bridges Coalition, we are committed to seeing this project through from concept to concrete, ensuring Cape
Cod and the Islands remain connected, resilient, and economically vibrant for decades to come.”
“The economic and societal impact of our bridges not being replaced would be catastrophic to the Cape and Islands,” said Mike Lauf, President & CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare and a founding member of the CIBC. “We must act to ensure the State and Federal Governments understand the dire consequences of not appropriating funding to replace these vital structures.”
“The Cape Cod regional economy – and the many thousands of businesses operating here – could not withstand a closure or failure of either of these essential bridges,” said Bert Talerman, President of Cape Cod 5, and founding member of the CIBC. “This tremendous risk is entirely avoidable by acting now to ensure the timely replacement of both bridges.”
“Every aspect of daily life on Cape Cod would be dramatically altered if one or both canal bridges had to completely close for months or even years for repair or major rehabilitation,” said DeWitt Davenport, CEO of the South Yarmouth-based The Davenport Companies and a founding member of the CIBC. “The overall economy would collapse, companies would go out of business, and thousands would lose their jobs. Replacement of both bridges as quickly as possible is the most pressing issue facing Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.”
“It’s imperative we begin the construction of the Sagamore Bridge and work towards getting funding for the Bourne Bridge,” said Marie Oliva, President & CEO of the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber and a member of the CIBC. “As ‘functionally obsolete’ structures, both bridges have travel lanes that are two feet narrower than modern design standards and cannot accommodate the same vehicle capacity as the adjoining roadways. This is no longer a summer problem. Cape-area residents are sitting in gridlock and bottlenecks year-round. Replacing the bridges is critical to eliminating costly and congestion-causing maintenance on these over 90-year-old structures – two of the four oldest in the Army Corps’ inventory.”
About the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition
The Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition (CIBC) is comprised of representatives from 50 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 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 athttp://www.fixcapecodbridges.com.
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.