Tim Dunn/CapeCod.com
BOURNE – The first public forum on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report that calls for replacing the aging Bourne and Sagamore Bridges featured mostly positive comments on Wednesday night.
The session was held at Bourne High School and attracted more than 100 people, including Bourne residents, local regulators and Bourne town officials.
The Draft Major Rehabilitation Evaluation report recommends building two new spans to replace the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges.
It suggests constructing bridges with four travel lanes each and 2 additional auxiliary lanes for acceleration and deceleration. Both new bridges would also include appropriate bike and pedestrian access.
While Bourne residents were mostly in favor of the concept, they also said it was critical that officials keep them informed as more details emerge.
Judith Froman, chairman of the Bourne Board of Selectmen, said it was important they have a “voice at the table.”
Acting Bourne Town Administrator Glenn Cannon said the town agreed with the recommendations, but also stressed the need for the community to be part of the ongoing dialogue.
“We want to make sure we are involved,” he said.
Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori said a “safe and reliable” canal crossing was crucial for the region. She called the option to build two new bridges a “once in a century decision.”
During their opening remarks, Army Corps officials explained how they arrived at the decision to build new bridges, and how other options, including filling in the Cape Cod Canal or building a tunnel, were discounted as not being viable.
When the bridges were built more than 80 years ago, it was expected that 88,000 vehicles would use the spans each month. Since then, the capacity has increased to 3.02 million vehicles per month.
A handful of residents who live and work near the bridges asked what would happen to their homes and businesses and whether they would be compensated.
Army Corps officials said they were only at the beginning of the design process and there would be plenty of time for impacted residents to talk about their concerns.
The Draft Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report (MRER) and Draft Environmental Assessment are available for review on the website at https://www.CapeCodCanalBridgesStudy.com under the “Documents” tab.
The remaining Army Corps public meetings are scheduled for:
– Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 at 6:30 p.m., Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center, 490 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, Mass.
– Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Federal Building auditorium, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, Mass. Registration and open house at 1 p.m. Meeting starts at 1:30 p.m.
– Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 at 6:30 p.m., Nauset Regional High School auditorium, 100 Cable Road, Eastham, Mass.
– Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at 6:30 p.m., Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, 744 West Main Street, Hyannis, Mass.
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