Finger Pointing Over Denied Funding for Cape Bridges

The application to replace the two Cape Cod bridges was rejected by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration on January 4. The landmark grant application looked to fund about half of the $4 billion undertaking.

I've read news stories, opinions and such but not one shouting match raised the fact that funding of all of the projects in this bill were only for 'repairs' of the existing bridges, not 'replacement' of them!

In 2019, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' asked for $1.882 billion to 'replace' the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, in the first round of funding for bridge investment projects. Knowing that, why did we even apply for it this time?

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I learned the important difference between repair and replace, in my 33 years of owning a diner. The concept is straightforward. When the cost of repairing equipment or any asset is worth more than its value, you replace it. When the cost of its repairs is less than the value, you repair it.

In 2019, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that both bridges had become functionally obsolete and should be replaced rather than repaired.

Another round of funding will come around again, We'll see then, if there'll be any changes in the wording of the application, starting with the understanding of what the money can or can't be used for.