Photo: (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WBZ NewsRadio) — President Joe Biden's budget proposal, set to be unveiled in Philadelphia Thursday afternoon, will include a request for millions of dollars in funds to go towards replacing two Cape Cod bridges.
The initial $350 million, toward a commitment of $600 million, was requested by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replace the aging Bourne and Sagamore bridges on Cape Cod as part of the Cape Cod Canal Bridges Program.
The request was applauded by Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Massachusetts Representative Bill Keating.
"I've been working hard to secure federal funding to replace the Cape Cod bridges and this initial $350 million, toward a commitment of $600 million, is a critical down payment in President Biden's budget," said Senator Warren. "The Biden administration is demonstrating their commitment to this vital project, and I'll continue coordinating with local, state and federal partners on this much-needed investment for Massachusetts."
"I applaud the Army Corps for requesting significant funding in its 2024 budget to replace the Cape Cod bridges. This budget request demonstrates that the Army Corps is serious about replacing these outdated bridges and sends a clear signal that the Biden administration is committed to this project," said Senator Markey. "Thanks to ongoing collaboration among federal, state, and local partners and renewed commitment by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Army Corps, the Bridges project is entering a promising new phase. I am proud of this successful push with my colleagues Senator Warren and Congressman Keating to secure this budget request and am committed to fighting to ensure that Congress follows through on this request and appropriates critical federal funds for this project."
"The Bourne and Sagamore bridges are a critical lifeline for the Cape and Islands – that’s the message my colleagues and I have delivered to the White House and President Biden personally, and today’s investment of $350 million towards the project clearly demonstrates that the White House understands this critical issue and is ready to make a down payment on replacing these federal assets," said Congressman Keating. "We are still in the early stages of this project, but I have been clear from the start that these bridges will be funded. The Cape Cod Canal bridges will be replaced, and I look forward to continuing to partner with the federal delegation and our federal, state, and local partners to ensure we continue moving forward."
In January, the federal government rejected a $1.88 billion application from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers to replace the nearly 90-year-old bridges, which have required increasingly frequent repair and maintenance in recent years.
It was the second time the state lost out on funding to replace the bridges after federal officials turned down an application from the Army Corps in Sept. 2022.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App