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The replacement bridge will feature two spans, a sunset overlook, wider shoulders, and a separated path for pedestrians and cyclists.
A July 2026 rendering of the Sagamore Bridge replacement. MassDOT
Another summer Friday, another backup at the Sagamore Bridge. But while traffic may not be moving, plans for its replacement are.
During a design public hearing Thursday, MassDOT released new renderings showing what the future $2 billion bridge over the Cape Cod Canal is expected to look like.
The new renderings show the two-span bridge crossing the Cape Cod Canal with pilings on land, versus in the water now. The bridges in each direction will have two lanes, with an additional auxiliary lane for cars entering and exiting and expanded shoulders.
The new bridge will also have a dedicated, separated pedestrian pathway, along with a lookout spot with a bench.
The 91-year old Sagamore Bridge was intended to connect Cape Cod and the Massachusetts mainland for 50 years. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff – Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
The spans, which connect Cape Cod to the mainland of Massachusetts, will have a similar arch to the current Sagamore Bridge.
The new Sagamore Bridge will sit west of the existing structure. The new bridge will consist of two separate side-by-side spans.
MassDOT expects construction to start in late 2027, with completion going into the 2030s.
A rendering of a shared-used pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists on the new Sagamore Bridge. Courtesy of MassDOT – MassDOTA rendering of the driver view of the new bridge. Courtesy of MassDOT
In the spring, MassDOT conducted foundation load testing, bringing large cranes around the current Sagamore Bridge.
In addition, the state has already started taking about a dozen local homes by eminent domain to make way for construction.
MassDOT is leading the Cape Cod Bridges Project, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration, to replace the federally owned Sagamore and Bourne bridges.
The vertical supports for the new Sagamore Bridge will be on land and surrounded by a publicly accessible platform. Courtesy of MassDOT – MassDOT
The state has not secured funding for the Bourne Bridge.
The replacement project, which has been years in the making, comes after the Sagamore and Bourne bridges were considered functionally obsolete, with narrow roadways, unsafe pedestrian access, and aging infrastructure.
As the only connection to the mainland, the bridges are essential infrastructure for the more than 200,000 year-round Cape residents and the 50,000 daily commuters who rely on them.
Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.
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