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Feds appear to pause funding for Cape bridge replacements, blaming government shutdown
Massachusetts officials have already secured $1.72 billion in federal funding to replace the "functionally obsolete" Cape Cod bridges.
For years, officials in Massachusetts have been working to secure federal funding to help replace the Cape Cod bridges, which are 90 years old and considered “functionally obsolete.” Now, a significant amount of the funding appears to be in jeopardy.
More than $11 billion in funding for “lower-priority” projects will be paused by the US Army Corps of Engineers, White House officials announced late last week. White House budget director Russell Vought said in a social media post that the funding disruption was the result of the government shutdown, which he blamed on Democrats.
While Vought did not mention the Cape Cod bridges by name, Massachusetts leaders immediately began to raise the alarm over the future of the critical infrastructure project. The Sagamore and Bourne bridges are currently owned by the federal government and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is leading the replacement project, and the state will take over operations after the new bridges are built.
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Gov. Maura Healey and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation said that they were being left in the dark by the Trump administration, and that the funding for the bridge replacements was already lawfully appropriated.
“While we are aware that the White House Office of Management and Budget tweeted that the Trump Administration is pausing $11 billion in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, we have not received any information from the federal government regarding this action,” Healey, Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Bill Keating said in a joint statement Friday.
No more information came over the weekend, and the Healey administration has not heard any updates from the federal government as of Monday.
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When reached for comment Monday, the Army Corps of Engineers provided the following statement, which was attributed to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works:
“Because of the lapse in appropriations that provide for oversight of Army Corps projects, we believe that our office and the Corps may be unable to provide adequate oversight of all the projects currently in the portfolio, which includes projects essential to life and safety. To enable continued oversight of the most critical projects throughout the nation, we will pause and review other projects to see if we can deliver them more efficiently,” the statement said.
“Once the lapse and review are over, the Administration may consider taking further actions allowable under the law that limit, cancel, or reprioritize resources in a manner that is consistent with these reviews and with the Administration’s stated priorities,” Army officials added.
The only roadway
MassDOT estimates that it will cost about $4.5 billion to replace the two bridges. Healey and the Congressional delegation have secured a total of $1.72 billion in federal funding for the project. The Army Corps of Engineers has committed $350 million to the Sagamore Bridge and $250 million to the Bourne Bridge. The Healey administration has pledged to contribute more than $700 million in state funding.
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The bridges are the only roadway connections between the mainland and Cape Cod, and are therefore essential for the safety of residents and visitors alike, officials said.
“This project is moving forward with funding appropriated by a bipartisan Congress and lawfully awarded by the federal government. Our focus remains on rebuilding both bridges and delivering the safe, reliable transportation infrastructure that our residents, visitors and businesses deserve,” Healey, Warren, Markey and Keating said in their statement.
State Sen. Dylan Fernandes, who represents Plymouth and Barnstable, sharply criticized federal officials for the decision.
“It is deeply concerning that this lawless Trump Administration, which has cut healthcare and food benefits for 300,000 Massachusetts residents to pay for tax cuts for the rich, is now attempting to steal funds dedicated to the Cape Bridge project. Trump and Congressional Republicans couldn’t care less about the lives of Cape and Islanders, and this cut could do irreparable damage to our region,” he said.
“This action by the Trump Administration threatens to close the Cape bridges, and we are going to fight back to ensure Cape and islanders have safe and reliable transportation access,” Fernandes added.
A major undertaking
Previously:
The bridge replacement is a major undertaking that Massachusetts leaders say could take until the late 2030s to complete. The Sagamore Bridge environmental approval process is underway, and a public comment period is set to end this Friday. The state is reviewing a preliminary design submission for the Sagamore Bridge. A design for the Bourne Bridge is being developed and expected to be submitted by next March.
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A number of public outreach events have been held and more are being planned. An open house was held in late September, and the project’s Advisory Group met earlier this month. Many details about the project’s timeline, costs, and design possibilities were presented. They can be viewed online.
In another statement posted to social media, Keating emphasized that the federal government has determined that it would be more expensive to maintain the bridges than replace them.
“The overall project to replace the Sagamore Bridge will move forward,” he said. “Absent any information from the administration about which specific portion of funds are being targeted, it’s vital to remind Cape Codders that these bridges are owned by the federal government, and by the federal government’s own account it would be more expensive to continue maintaining the existing bridges in lieu of replacement. Unnecessary delays to this project will only cost taxpayers more money in the long run.”
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