The Cape Cod Bridges Replacement
Project Tracker
Where the project actually stands. Updated weekly. In plain English.
As of November 9, 2026
Right now
Fall 2026 · Taking bids
Picking the builder.
Coming up
May 2027
Final bids due
Three teams are now bidding to design and build the new Sagamore. Final bids are due in May 2027, and MassDOT expects to hire the winner in late 2027. The federal environmental review is done. MassDOT planned to finish the final permits in spring 2026 and has not yet said they are all in hand. MassDOT says work at the bridge starts in winter 2027, and its newer FAQ says the big work starts in spring 2028.
The money
MassDOT puts the whole program at $4.50 billion. That is both bridges plus design, permitting, land and inflation, so it is more than the two bridge costs added together. Federal and state governments split the bill. None of it comes from local Cape budgets.
Sagamore Bridge $2.42B
Fully funded
- Federal grants $1.72B Bridge Investment Program ($993M), Mega/MPDG ($372M) and US Army Corps ($350M). In September 2026 the federal government released $956M of this for construction, and MassDOT said it expected $371M more in mid-October.
- Massachusetts $0.70B MassDOT 2026–2030 Capital Investment Plan.
Bourne Bridge Not yet set
Funding pending
- Federal grant request TBD A federal request of about $1.183 billion is under review.
- State match TBD State portion sized to the federal share once decided.
The schedule
Both bridges stay open the whole time, with two lanes each way. Work at the Sagamore starts between winter 2027 and spring 2028.
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2025
Property purchases begin
MassDOT starts working with the 12 homeowners and 3 businesses whose land is needed for the new Sagamore ramps.
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June 2026
Originally Winter 2026 · MassDOT, 2024
Federal environmental review complete
The FHWA approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement and issued its Record of Decision, which closes out the federal NEPA review.
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Not announced yet
Originally Spring 2026 · MassDOT, 2024 and 2025
Final state and federal permits
MassDOT planned to have these done in spring 2026. It has not yet said they are all in hand.
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Sept 2026
Three teams invited to bid on the Sagamore
MassDOT sent its request for proposals to three teams: Cape Cod Constructors, Skanska Traylor and Walsh. Each one both designs and builds the bridge.
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May 2027
Final bids due
The three teams turn in their final bids. MassDOT plans to open them in public in July 2027.
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Fall 2027
Property purchases complete
All Sagamore right-of-way purchases finalized.
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Late 2027
Builder hired
MassDOT picks the winning team and tells it to start work.
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Winter 2027 – Spring 2028
Sagamore construction begins
MassDOT says work starts in winter 2027 and the big work starts in spring 2028. The new bridge goes up next to the old one, and the old Sagamore keeps carrying traffic.
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2029
Bourne construction begins
Only if the Bourne gets its money. MassDOT says it runs about a year behind the Sagamore. Same approach: build the new one next to the old one.
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2031
First new bridge floats in
The new Sagamore southbound span is built at a shipyard, then floated up the canal on barges and lifted into place.
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Fall 2033
First new lanes open
All Sagamore traffic moves onto the first new bridge, two lanes each way. Then the old Sagamore comes down.
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2036
Originally Winter 2034 · MassDOT, 2024
New Sagamore complete
Northbound side of the new Sagamore opens. Both halves of the new bridge are now in service.
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2037
All work done
New Bourne complete. Both bridges in their final form. Eleven-year project ends.
What we're watching this month
- Federal release of the next $371M for the Sagamore (MassDOT expected it in mid-October 2026)
- Final state and federal permits
- Federal grant decision for the Bourne
- Final bids from the three Sagamore teams (due May 2027)
Where we get our information
We read the technical stuff so you don't have to. Every claim on this page links back to a primary source.
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