The federal environmental review for the Bourne and Sagamore bridge replacement is finished. MassDOT announced it on August 10. It is one of the biggest approvals the project has cleared so far.
Here is what actually happened. The Federal Highway Administration and MassDOT signed a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision on June 26. Notice of that document was published in the Federal Register on August 7. That publication is the step that formally ends the federal environmental review, known as NEPA.
Why this one is a big deal
The FHWA had not approved a Final Environmental Impact Statement for a road project in Massachusetts since 1991. The last one was the Big Dig.
The bridges also went through the highest level of federal environmental review there is. MassDOT says that is because of how big and complicated the job is.
What it unlocks
Two things.
It clears the way for the final state and federal permits the project still needs. And it moves Massachusetts closer to locking in more than $1 billion in federal money to help build the new bridges.
Which bridge goes first
The Record of Decision spells it out. The work comes in two phases. The Sagamore is Phase 1. The Bourne is Phase 2.
If anyone wants to challenge it
There is a clock on that, and it has not started yet. FHWA still has to publish a separate statute of limitations notice in the Federal Register. Once that notice goes up, anyone bringing a federal court claim against the decision has 150 days to file. After that, claims are barred.
What happens next
MassDOT is buying the property it needs for the new Sagamore bridge. It is also reviewing the design-build teams that want to do the work. MassDOT expects to award a construction contract in late 2027.
The short version
The environmental review is done. That was one of the last big approvals standing between this project and construction. Final permits and federal funding are the next steps.