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Army Corps of Engineers: Replace Cape Cod Canal bridges

Construction of new bridges, in roughly the same location as the current bridges, could start as early as 2025.

The Sagamore Bridge. David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe, File

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CONCORD, Mass. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recommended replacing the two narrow and often backed-up bridges that carry vehicular traffic across the Cape Cod Canal.

The Corps, which oversees the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, issued its draft report Thursday following a study that weighed the advantages of rehabbing the nearly 85-year-old bridges versus replacing them entirely.

The Corps determined that replacing them would be more cost-effective than paying $1.5 billion to rehabilitate them.

The report recommends replacing the four-lane bridges with new wider four-lane structures that include auxiliary acceleration-deceleration lanes, and bike and pedestrian access.

Construction of new bridges, in roughly the same location as the current bridges, could start as early as 2025.

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The Corps has scheduled five public meetings later this month to discuss the proposal.