No Alternate Route: How the Bridges Support Daily Life in Falmouth - Michael Kasparian (Falmouth Chamber of Commerce)
RSS Feed The Sagamore and Bourne Bridges provide access to and from all fifteen towns of the Cape Cod region, along with the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. However, of all the Cape & Islands communities, the town of Falmouth stands to be uniquely impacted by the Canal Bridges Replacement effort due to its close proximity to the Bourne Bridge, its relatively isolated geography, and the major regional employers whose operations are based in the town, including science and research organizations like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Marine Biological Laboratory. Falmouth is the second largest Cape Cod town by population, with about 33,000 year-round residents. Combined with seasonal visitation and second homeowners, this number can grow two to three times in the busy summer season. Like all of Cape Cod, Falmouth depends on the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges as a lifeline – and there are no alternate routes.
This episode, we are joined by Michael Kasparian, Executive Director of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce. Michael discusses the role of the Cape Cod Bridges – particularly the Bourne Bridge - in day-to-day life for the Falmouth community, and how modernizing this critical infrastructure will help attract and keep workers and families in the town.
Our opening segment of the podcast features Luisa Paiewonsky, Executive Director of Megaprojects for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), who last month joined us for a full episode update on the Cape Cod Bridges Replacement Project. This month, she will update us on the in-progress Request for Proposals process to select the firm that will build the new Sagamore Bridge.
Bridge the Gap is a podcast series presented by the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition (CIBC) in partnership with the Davenport Companies and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. The podcast shares information and insights related to the planned replacement of the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges, highlighting the critical role these two bridges play in both the regional and statewide economies.
Show Notes:
- Read about the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce: Official Website of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce
- Learn more about the Falmouth economy: Falmouth's Economics - Falmouth EDIC
- Find the latest updates on the Cape Cod Bridges Replacement project: MassDOT Cape Cod Bridges Program
- Understand the vital role of the bridges in connecting and serving 230,000 year-round residents, thousands of businesses, and millions of annual visitors: Cape Cod Bridges Replacement: An Urgent Need
- Explore the mission of the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition (CIBC) and its role in shaping Cape Cod's infrastructure future: Replacing the Cape Cod Bridges - Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition