In reaction to the announcement of Bourne Bridge repairs being shifted to the spring of 2019, The FIX Coalition praised the increasingly coordinated effort of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The joint announcement from USACE/MassDOT was issued Tuesday, August 14th, stating they had jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding for ongoing coordination on plans for the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.
The FIX Coalition sent a formal request to MassDOT and USACE requesting the Bourne Bridge work be moved to 2019, in light of the lane closures on the Sagamore Bridge in 2018 that caused tremendous travel delays and impacts to residents and the economy. Concerns over restrictions on both bridges in the same year which impact the livelihoods and quality of life for Cape Codders drove the rationale for the request.
“We are relieved to learn that the hugely disruptive portion of proposed fall work on the Bourne Bridge has been postponed until the spring of 2019,” said Marie Oliva, CEO of the Cape Cod Canal Area Chamber, a member of the Coalition. “We appreciate the Corps of Engineers coming to this conclusion based on anticipated travel volume for September. As part of the shoulder season, September is one of the busiest traveled months on the Cape.”
Cape Cod Chamber CEO, Wendy Northcross, stated “We are grateful that these transportation leaders are coordinating their work in new ways on routine maintenance issues as well as the planning for the future Canal-area transportation system and bridges. We have people like Congressman Keating and Secretary Stephanie Pollack and David Zoppo of Zoppo Construction to thank for taking this matter seriously and working to find equitable solutions with all concerned.”
The FIX Coalition is comprised of community organizations and individuals to develop support for a proposed MassDOT/USACE transportation improvements that will alleviate congestion in the Cape Cod Canal area. Led by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce, the Cape’s 15 local chambers, all the Cape & Islands state representatives and senators, Congressman Keating, and others, is inviting the community to support “The Fix”.
