Sagamore Bridge replacement moves forward as state accelerates planning, Army Corps remains central

Mark Forest told Government 101 that the Sagamore Bridge replacement project has advanced through environmental review and that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has taken a lead role in planning and beginning contractor solicitation.

Forest said the Army Corps of Engineers remains an important federal partner on the bridges and that congressional and federal resources historically supported large projects; he added that state leadership has accelerated the project's planning and that construction solicitations were expected as the next step.

Forest offered a planning timeline on-air, saying the project team aims to be well underway by the late 2020s. He described design features that aim to improve safety and provide dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists, noting buffers and wider lanes will address current structural and safety limitations.

Forest framed the bridge work as a federal-state partnership in which the Commonwealth is currently pushing the process forward while federal engineering expertise remains necessary for large infrastructure delivery.