The Army Corps of Engineers and the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts signed a memorandum of understanding to partner in the planning
and construction of two new bridges to replace the Sagamore and Bourne
Bridges that now span the Cape Cod Canal. This is good news. It is another
step taken toward a needed change for which many have advocated for decades.
Despite the news of
progress, one must lament the snail’s pace by which such things are
achieved. The quicksand of regulation,
litigation, and political and bureaucratic decision-making took so long to arrive at this point. One fears that the long drawn out process will carry over into the next steps and the two new bridges will not be completed until far into the future - 2050 is not unthinkable.
The federal and state memorandum indicates that both agree that
funding is a federal government responsibility, but it will be up to Congress
to appropriate the funds. The Massachusetts
Department of Transportation will be lead agency in bridge delivery. When completed the Commonwealth will own,
operate, and maintain the new bridges.
Over the past two decades many have advocated the
replacement of the bridges. It has
taken that long to reach a decision to simply move forward with a plan to replace
the bridges. A wide variety of possible
alternatives to the two aging bridges were proposed and considered. The Army Corps concluded earlier this year
through a Major Rehabilitation Evaluation (MRE) study that the bridges can no
longer be maintained, and two new bridges are needed.
Conceptual designs envision two new cable stay bridges (Zakim is a cable stay bridge) inshore of the
existing bridges. Each would have two
through lanes in each direction plus an enter/exit lane in each direction, a ten foot shoulder,
and a 10 foot pedestrian lane.
Given that it took almost ten years after serious discussion of bridge replacement began to reach this point, one should not get too excited about quick summer Cape Cod departures on Sunday morning coming any time soon.
The Cape Cod Canal was built to improve the safety and
economics of shipping. Myles Standish
proposed connecting two rivers in the present canal region as early as 1627. George Washington had the same thought, but
to protect Colonial shipping in the Revolutionary War. August Belmont was a wealthy financier who
in 1904 took the vision of many others and made it reality by forming a company
to build the Cape Cod Canal. About 15-20,000
vessels pass through the canal each year saving them approximately 135 miles of
transit around Cape Cod. Large barges and ships transport decreasing cargo tonnage with each year.
Traffic is overwhelmingly pleasure craft
today.
Early bridges across the canal were largely an afterthought. However, with the advent of auto travel in the early 20th
century, a new reality quickly changed priorities and the current Sagamore, Bourne
and Railroad bridges were built.
The three bridges were authorized
in September 1933. Work began three
months later. About 900 men earning
about one dollar per hour constructed the bridges in 18 months for a total cost
for all three bridges of about $4.5M.


Government project cost
estimates are consistently well below projections. A total cost of $2 billion would not be surprising. The Big Dig will stand very evident in debates about funding.
The three original bridges were constructed in 18
months! A decision was made in September 1933. Construction began in December 1933. In June, 1935 the bridges opened. Eighteen months is obviously not achievable in the modern era and context.
Expect about ten years of pre-construction work. Financing of the project requires action by Congress that is not assured. Preliminary engineering will be done to support a full environmental impact study. Some work has already been done in this regard. After the environmental impact study is complete and approved there will be further permitting requirements. Assuming everyone
with something to say will get a chance to hold up the project, as is normal practice, construction may not begin for ten years.
One would think this could go a little faster given that the
sighting is right next to the existing bridges, but that is not how things work
in the real world. So, actual construction might begin about 2030 if all goes smoothly.

The Leonard Zakim Bridge in Boston was built as part of the Big Dig. It is of similar type proposed and its span is similar to the Canal bridges. It took six years.
Anticipate a sequential construction project that allows lessons to be learned in constructing the first bridge to apply to the second. A construction process will likely be on the order of 5-7 years for the first bridge and 4-6 for the second bridge.
Optimistically, the first bridge could be open as early as 2035 and the second in 2040 when the existing bridges are over 100 years old. One can only imagine the condition of the existing bridges 15-20 years from now.
Hopefully, the many peripheral construction projects that can be done earlier and have a major impact will be performed before the actual bridge construction. This would include things like exit ramp changes in anticipation of the new bridges.
Hopefully, the many peripheral construction projects that can be done earlier and have a major impact will be performed before the actual bridge construction. This would include things like exit ramp changes in anticipation of the new bridges.
Why does it take so long and cost so much now to accomplish these types of projects? Largely it results from regulatory change of all varieties. Regulation exists for a reason and it is not inherently bad. But can it become so excessive that a state or nation finds itself almost paralyzed in achieving anything of consequence?
Of course, much needed change in labor rules occurred in the early 20th Century. Men were making $1 a day with no benefits at
all in 1935. There was little concern for safety. There was no need of an environmental impact study back then and permitting was probably not even
in place at that time. Needed
change occurred in this regard throughout the 20th Century. But maybe
it has gone too far and is a little too stringent. Maybe it has become counterproductive in its extremes to solving
problems. The Trump Administration has issued executive orders and regulatory changes to shorten the completion requirement of Environmental Impact Studies to two years for major projects. That could accelerate the project.
One wonders about this when it takes 30 years from when people began seriously discussing the need for new bridges
and the projected completion of the project. The amazing accomplishment of 900 men in 1935 building three bridges that will have a 100 year life span in 18 months seems in contrast an even greater achievement than was thought.
great and interesting info. ominous that the Commonwealth is taking over. can you say boondoggle, cost over runs and tolls? all of which are certain to become a reality. dont forget a new state division that will be established to "manage and maintain" the bridges requiring several hundred new hires plus admin staff, offices and vehicles and equipment and boats. yeah we need new bridges, but one has to be either naive or not thinking clearly to think that the state of MA can do this well or efficiently. Did I mention the expected tolls?
ReplyDeletegreat article Dan. thanks