Governor Healey Advances Sagamore Bridge Replacement with $956 Million in Federal Funding and Final Procurement Phase
Major milestone moves long-awaited project closer to construction of a safer, more reliable Cape Cod
SAGAMORE – Governor Healey today announced a major milestone in the replacement of the Sagamore Bridge, securing authorization for $956 million in federal grant funding and releasing the Request for Proposals for the project’s design-build contract.
The RFP launches the final phase of procurement before construction and will lead to the selection of the team that will design and build the new Sagamore Bridge. The Federal Highway Administration is also expected to authorize an additional $371 million in federal grant funding in mid-October, further securing funding for one of the largest transportation projects in Massachusetts history.
“This is a major step toward delivering the new Sagamore Bridge that Cape Cod residents, businesses and visitors have waited decades for,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We secured historic federal funding, completed critical permitting and design work, and now we are moving into the final procurement phase before construction. We are going to keep pushing this project forward and deliver a safer, more reliable bridge that will serve Cape Cod and Massachusetts for generations.”
“The Sagamore and Bourne Bridges are lifelines for Cape Cod and the Islands, connecting people to jobs, schools, health care, businesses and everything this region has to offer,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This milestone brings us closer to getting shovels in the ground and delivering the modern infrastructure this region deserves. We are grateful to our federal, state and local partners who have helped move this project forward.”
The RFP follows MassDOT’s March 2026 Request for Letters of Interest and May 2026 Request for Qualifications. MassDOT expects final proposals to be submitted in May 2027, with a public bid opening anticipated in July 2027. A Notice to Proceed is anticipated in late 2027, with construction expected to begin in winter 2027.
MassDOT will lead construction of the new Sagamore Bridge in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges. Both bridges are 91 years old and provide the only roadway connections between Cape Cod and mainland Massachusetts.
The Sagamore Bridge replacement project will include two new bridge spans, reconstructed roadway interchanges, improved local and regional traffic movements and safer, more modern infrastructure for Cape Cod’s approximately 230,000 year-round residents and more than five million annual visitors.
MassDOT expects the new eastbound span to open in 2033. At that point, all traffic will shift to the new span while the existing Sagamore Bridge is demolished and the new westbound span is constructed. MassDOT plans to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction throughout construction to preserve existing roadway capacity.
“This is a big step forward for the Cape Cod Bridges Program. Replacing the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges is critical to modernizing Massachusetts’ infrastructure, and the procurement process is key to moving towards the finish line,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.
“With this announcement, we are one step closer to shovels in the ground, cranes in the air, and a brand new bridge for Cape Cod—the Sagamore will sag no more,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “I’m proud to have helped secure $1.7 billion in federal funding to replace the Sagamore Bridge, and I’m grateful for the close partnership with Senator Warren, Congressman Keating, Governor Healey, Secretary Eng, and all our state and local partners working to realize this long-awaited project.”
"The bids are out and at long last, the construction will follow,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “For nearly a decade, I have worked with Senators Markey and Warren, state, and local partners to secure federal funding to replace this federal asset and have championed full replacement over costly rehabilitation. As a committed partner in this undertaking, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has worked tirelessly to permit and design this historic project, which will improve daily life, ensure critical access for first responders, and bolster our economy. MassDOT's Request for Proposals begins the next chapter, bringing us closer to the day when our residents will begin crossing the new Sagamore Bridge."
“Today’s RFP release demonstrates that we are continuing to move this critical project forward with urgency, discipline and a clear focus on delivery,” shared Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration understands the importance of delivering major infrastructure projects that improve mobility, safety and reliability. We are grateful to the communities, federal, state and regional partners, and stakeholders, who have helped us reach this milestone, and we look forward to working with the design and construction industry as we move toward construction.”
“Thanks to the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Megaprojects Executive Director Luisa Paiewonsky and the MassDOT project team, today marks the final stage in the procurement process for one of the largest transportation investments in a generation,” said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “Once under way, the Sagamore Bridge project will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs, while creating a new canal crossing that is safer, accommodates multi-modal travel, and supports commerce, helping Massachusetts maintain its competitive edge well into the future.”
The Cape Cod Bridges Program is being led by MassDOT in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The federal environmental review was formally completed in August following the Federal Highway Administration’s June 26 Record of Decision.
The Sagamore Bridge is the first phase of the broader Cape Cod Bridges Program, which will ultimately replace both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges. MassDOT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have jointly applied for more than $1 billion in federal funding for replacement of the Bourne Bridge and are awaiting a decision on that application.
"Today is a real milestone in our decades-long pursuit to replace the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges to safely and reliably travel to and from the mainland for the next century,” said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Cape and Islands). “These bridges are a lifeline to Cape Cod and the Islands, serving as a daily connection for locals and workers, and as the primary gateway for visitors to enjoy everything our spectacular region has to offer. Replacing these bridges is not an option — it’s essential for now and our future. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, MassDOT, our Congressional delegation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Army Corps of Engineers for the sustained partnership to ensure Cape Cod and the Islands thrive for generations to come."
“The Bourne and Sagamore bridges are our lifeline on the Cape and Islands, connecting hundreds of thousands of people who live and work here and millions of visitors who come each year,” said State Senator Dylan Fernandes (D-Plymouth and Barnstable). “I'm proud to see this project continue to hit key milestones and move forward on schedule, and grateful to Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, and MassDOT for their leadership on this. We'll keep working alongside local, state, and federal partners to deliver new bridges that Cape Cod can count on for generations to come."
“This is an important step forward for our district, all of Cape Cod and the Islands, and the millions of people who visit and enjoy this beautiful part of the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Steven Xiarhos (R-5th Barnstable). “The Sagamore Bridge is a critical lifeline for our residents, businesses, first responders and visitors, and replacing it has been a long time coming. Securing the federal funding and moving into the final procurement phase brings us closer to delivering a safer, more reliable Sagamore Bridge that Cape Cod can count on for generations to come. I’m proud and grateful to see this project moving forward, and I look forward to seeing it get done.”
The Healey-Driscoll Administration will continue working with federal, state and local partners to secure the remaining funding necessary to deliver both bridges.
