Army Corps: Sagamore Bridge Repairs Resume in March

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says deck repairs and paving on the Sagamore Bridge spanning the Cape Cod Canal are scheduled to restart as soon as March 1 and continue until late spring 2010.  One third of the roadway width was completed last fall with the remaining two-thirds planned to be completed this spring.

The Corps says travel restrictions will begin, weather permitting, as soon as Monday, March 1st at 10 a.m. and continue through late Spring.  Travel restrictions will stay in place 24-hours a day, 7- days a week. Motorists planning to use the Sagamore Bridge during this period should be aware that travel delays are likely to occur during the morning and afternoon peak travel periods each day.

The Army Corps and Canal Area Regional Traffic Task Force worked with MassDOT during the winter to coordinate construction activities and minimize congestion and inconvenience in order to complete work prior to peak traffic season. The work consists of removing existing pavement and installation of a new asphalt pavement surface on the Sagamore Bridge. The Bridge deck was last repaired 29 years ago.  

Visit the Army Corps website to learn more. 

Comments

[Chuck Bacon]

5/14/2012
Good morning, A great weekend on the cape. Untill the ride home,sunday at 4pm it took two hours to get from Rt 6 exit #2 to the other side of the sagamore bridge.There was not ONE cruiser on Rt 130 or on Rt 6 to help direct the traffic flow. On the bridge there were no workers.All the equipment is mobil and it should be moved to a staging area to open lanes for the weekend travelers. Or put on two or three shifts to expidite the repairs.It would not be so bad if you could see work being done that caused the delay.My family and I have beem property owners on the cape since 1946 we expect construction and delays during off season and week days. However to cause such delays and frustration on weekenda especially on mothers day and up coming memorial day you need to change your approch to the traffic problems.Thank you, Chuck Bacon

[Ann]

I do not see a need to not open the bridge to all traffic on weekends it took me an hour and half to get from exit 2 to the Sagamore Bridge. Close exit one so the traffic can flow. Is there a need for one lane when no one is working on the bridge. Open up the bridge on the weekends when the traffic is at its worse. Communication at all exits prior to traffic build ups would help so we could take alternative routes to the Bourne Bridge..

[Sandra Hirst]

I live in Sandwich and thought the #130 exit was closed so didn't take it on my way home from down cape-What an error on my part because it was open as I passed by-it took me over 1 hour to get to the turn off before the bridge-7p.m. to 8p.m.
This was just awful.Sandra

[Joyce]

Is there any plans that the bridge will be opened for Easter week-end travel? I have heard con-flicting reports. Thank you.
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Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts
Bridge Work Alert

Steel repairs to start on or about March 20
Lane restrictions scheduled for Sagamore Bridge
For Immediate Release:
March 2, 2012
Release No. MA 2012-019
CONCORD, Mass. –Steel repairs on the Sagamore Bridge spanning the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, Mass., are scheduled to start, weather permitting, on or about March 20, 2012, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials.

During the scheduled time for repair, travel over the Sagamore Bridge will be reduced to ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. Traffic control will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through mid-to late-May 2012 (except for two weekends) to perform work above the road surface on the Sagamore Bridge. Motorists planning to use the Sagamore Bridge during this timeframe should be aware that travel delays are likely to occur during the morning and afternoon peak travel periods each day.

During the periods of Easter Weekend, April 7-8, and Patriots Weekend, April 14-16, all equipment will be removed from the Sagamore Bridge and all lanes will be open to traffic. The Bourne Bridge will be fully open to traffic as well for these weekends.

The $8.5 million Sagamore Bridge and Bourne Bridge repair project involves the removal and replacement of structural steel secondary members, strengthening of existing structural steel members, replacement of structural fasteners, removal of selected existing welds, and strengthening of selected gusset plates. Completion of steel repairs is critical to maintaining the integrity of the bridges, vital components of the transportation system for the Cape, the Islands and southeastern Massachusetts. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2012.

Signage will keep motorists advised of travel restrictions. Accessing the Canal website (CapeCodCanal.US, then Bridge Alerts) will inform motorists of schedule changes. Those who want to be notified of changes to the work schedule can sign up for the Bridge Alerts email notifications. Send an email to: CapeCodCanalBridges@usace.army.mil with the subject title “Bridge Alerts.” An email alert is sent when there are major changes to the bridge work status or schedule.

The Corps will use Facebook at www.facebook.com/CorpsNewEngland and Twitter at http://twitter.com/CorpsNewEngland to give updates to the bridge work, as well as answer questions or concerns about the bridge repair work or its other activities in New England. For more information about the bridge repairs contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Public Affairs Office at 978-318-8238.

[Betsey Desfosse]

I left Orleans on Wednesday and read a sign around exit 3 that said, "13 miles 26 minutes". It took me 1 hour and 20 minutes to go from exit 2 to the bridge! If there are going to be signs they should at least be accurate so travelers can change plans if they need to. My ride home with 3 kids (one sick and one with special needs) turned into a nightmare that could have been avoided if I had accurate information. When is the project expected to be completed?
Thanks for listening.
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And thanks for sharing. The work by the US Army Corps is important and necessary but delays inevitable. The Corps says the current work is to be completed by Memorial Day.

[David Chapin]

The Sagamore Bridge repairs are a nuisance to everyone. We all will live through it. But a major inequity exists. On the westbound Rte 6, heading off Cape,barrels are out, helping everyone to squeeze into one lane well before the bridge. No such process on Eastbound Rte 3 heading on Cape; only some painted lines. Folks who line up nicely when the signs say to merge are at a disadvantage when pushy people drive up on the right and then squeeze in at the last minute. Why can't the barrel technique be used on that side too?
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MassDOT Responds: Thank you David, we have forwarded your question to the Army Corps and MassDOT district offices in that area.