Cape & Islands News

Sagamore dissatisfaction: O'Leary sends follow up letter to US Army Corps of Engineers

Letter is follow up to one sent September 23, 2009 by all the Cape's delegates

Wednesday, Senator Robert O'Leary's Office sent a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the work presently being done on the Sagamore Bridge.  The letter serves as a follow up to one sent and signed by all of the Cape's delegates on September 23, 2009. 

“I am worried about what this will do to weekend tourism on the Cape.  Our Fall festivals and other events on Cape Cod rely on people to come over the bridge to attend.  Our guest houses and restaurants depend on good Fall business, and I am concerned for them.” - Senator Robert O'Leary

According to the Senator's Office, only one of the requests made by the delegates was addressed. That request being a 20 hour work day increased to 24 hours.  Drivers are still fighting a significant wait while crossing the bridge.

In his second letter, O'Leary asks that all the initial requests including a review of the rate of construction be addressed immediately and that all findings and efforts be made public.

State and local officials including the MA Highway Department have no control over the project schedule or the work currently being done on the Sagamore Bridge.

The Army Corps has worked with local and state politicians, officials and chamber leaders by opening an extra lane on weekend days in order to alleviate heavier visitor traffic flows. It has also changed the original project schedule from working through as much of the winter then starting up in the spring of 2010, to ceasing work in December then starting up in spring 2010 and possibly finishing in fall of 2010.  But drivers are still faced with congestion and unacceptable waits.

In addition to his letter to Farrell McMillan of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Senator released the following statement:

“I recognize the importance of maintaining safe bridges and other transportation infrastructures but the fact that work was increased when we asked and not from the beginning makes me wonder what other changes could be instituted to speed up this process that haven’t happened yet. Our residents are faced with multi-hour delays on otherwise short commutes; our students are being delayed in getting to school and are having to cut the school day short in some instances.  I know that our Cape businesses are being harmed from tourist dollars not coming over the bridge in the crucial shoulder-season.” 

“I am worried about what this will do to weekend tourism on the Cape.  Our Fall festivals and other events on Cape Cod rely on people to come over the bridge to attend.  Our guest houses and restaurants depend on good Fall business, and I am concerned for them.” 

We owe the quarter million people on the Cape some evidence that this terrible inconvenience is absolutely necessary, and that it is happening as quickly as possible. We’re attempting to stimulate the economy by delaying people’s commute to work and keeping tourists from coming over the bridge.  What kind of stimulus is that?”

The letter, dated Thursday, was also copied to Governor Deval Patrick and Transporation Secretary James Aloisi.  Read it in its entirety here.