BOURNE, Mass. — Massachusetts has officially begun the process of seizing private homes to make way for construction of the new Sagamore Bridge, triggering emotional reactions from residents who say they are being forced to leave long-standing neighborhoods with little certainty about what comes next.
More than a dozen properties are being taken through eminent domain, with the first homeowners receiving buyout checks over the weekend. Under the process, affected residents have 120 days to vacate their homes.
State officials say compensation is based on fair market value, defined as “the highest price which a hypothetical willing buyer would pay.” However, several homeowners say the payments do not reflect the reality of trying to relocate in Cape Cod’s tight housing market.
Joyce Michaud, who has lived in her home for 25 years, said receiving the buyout was deeply unsettling despite the financial compensation.
“It's very strange. I feel kind of lost,” Michaud said. “I've had people say, 'What's your problem? You got a big check.' Well, yeah, I do. But where do I go?”
Nearby, Marc and Joan Hendel — who built their house just last year — said they were blindsided by the state’s action.
“We had no idea,” Marc Hendel said.
“Not only have they ruined our lives, they're giving us a check that probably won't cover any of us to move to another location on the Cape,” Joan Hendel said.
The Sagamore Bridge, along with the Bourne Bridge, opened in 1935 and carries approximately 38 million trips annually, serving as the only major roadway evacuation route for the Cape’s roughly 230,000 year-round residents. Both bridges are considered functionally obsolete, prompting long-standing plans for replacement.
Although the bridges are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is partnering with the federal government on the replacement effort.
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All 13 homes slated for seizure for the Sagamore Bridge project are located in the southwest corner of the existing bridge, primarily within the Round Hill neighborhood. State officials say they are offering assistance to displaced homeowners in finding new housing and may allow some residents to temporarily rent their former properties if needed.
Plans for the new Sagamore Bridge include two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 12-foot entry-exit lane, and the replacement of the current 6-foot sidewalks with a 14-foot shared-use path. Officials are also considering a lookout area on the bridge. The redesign will require changes to surrounding roadways, further expanding the project footprint.
Michaud said her offer was financially fair but could never compensate for the personal loss.
“I would give this back and say here. In fact, let me pay you. I want to stay here,” Michaud said.
The state expects to complete all property acquisitions by the end of this year. Construction on the new bridge is expected to begin in about two years, with permitting anticipated to wrap up in 2026. A notice to proceed is projected for late 2027 or early 2028.
State officials have prioritized the Sagamore Bridge replacement using a funding package that includes $1.3 billion in federal grants, $750 million in state funding, and $350 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Funding plans for the replacement of the Bourne Bridge are still being finalized.
As planning advances, homeowners facing displacement say the project highlights the human cost of major infrastructure upgrades — a balance between regional safety, mobility, and the loss of deeply rooted communities.
Originally reported by David Bienick in WCVB.
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