As a frequent visitor to Cape Cod, i wonder when it will be necessary to replace the two traffic bridges. They were both completed in 1934, and are at the end of their lives. For a bridge, the span is about 0.7 mile. For a tunnel, you need about another 0.3 miles for approaches. The canal is only about 40 feet deep, and there is no real bedrock. Cape Cod is (essentially) a big sand bar, so cutting a trench and burying a tube is probably the easiest option. In any case, which option would cost the least? i vote for a tunnel.
Maybe they should have a tunnel to keep the road open during a storm…
The bridges close in strong wind, as vehicles would be blown out of their lanes, and the bridges are vulnerable to storm damage.
Apparently MassDOT is soliciting bids to build & operate a third bridge next to the Sagamore Bridge. The new bridge would be a toll bridge (at least initially) and would handle Cape-bound traffic, while the Sagamore would become mainland-bound only.
Also, from the above article:
Cutting a trench gets a bit more complicated when it has to cross an active canal full of water.
Gee, you’d think they’d have plenty of revenue from all those Cape Cod Tunnel permits they sell
And you *believe *that???
The Mass. Turnpike was supposed to be a toll road - at least initially. It still is, 60 years later. Once Massachusetts starts getting a cash flow, they aren’t about to give it up.
I thought he meant one which crossed the bay (from say Plymouth)…
Bridges are usually about half the cost of tunnels but need refurbishment sooner. Tunnels are usually built either for security purposes if the river is near a navy base, or if the nearby land is extremely expensive such as New York since bridges have a larger footprint on land.
Fill in the canal.