Overview
- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation released the request for proposals on Monday, starting the formal design-build competition with final proposals due May 2027, public bid opening expected in July 2027, a notice to proceed targeted for late 2027, and construction slated to begin in winter 2027.
- Federal support for the project includes $956 million already authorized and about $371 million expected in mid‑October, forming roughly $1.3 billion in federal grants that sit alongside state funding and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contributions.
- The RFP requires the winning contractor to sign a project labor agreement with the Southeastern Massachusetts Building Trades Council and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, a labor condition that has drawn scrutiny over potential cost impacts.
- Early design plans call for two 12‑foot travel lanes each direction, a 12‑foot entry/exit lane, a 14‑foot shared‑use path with a lookout, and a staged build that keeps two lanes each way open so the bridge continues to serve as Cape Cod’s main evacuation route; MassDOT expects the new eastbound span to open in 2033 while some project materials estimate broader completion by spring 2037.
- Property acquisition has already begun under eminent domain with about 13 homes identified and 120‑day move notices issued, and separate planning and federal funding for the Bourne Bridge replacement remain unresolved which could affect overall traffic continuity for Cape Cod residents.