CONCORD, Mass. – All four traffic lanes on the Sagamore Bridge, spanning the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, Mass., opened as of May 19 at 6 p.m., according to officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. The steel repairs above the road deck on the Sagamore were completed and traffic control devices were removed. All traffic lanes on both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges will remain open through the Memorial Day weekend and into the summer season.

Steel repair work will continue below the road deck on the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges until the fall of 2012. There will be occasional times through the fall of 2012 that a one-day lane restriction will be required and put into place to complete the Sagamore Bridge steel repair work.

Bicycle and pedestrian access to the sidewalks also are now available. The $8.5 million Sagamore Bridge and Bourne Bridge repair project involves the removal and replacement of structural steel secondary members, strengthening of existing structural steel members, replacement of structural fasteners, removal of selected existing welds, and strengthening of selected gusset plates. Completion of steel repairs is critical to maintaining the integrity of the bridges, vital components of the transportation system for the Cape, the Islands and southeastern Massachusetts. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2012.

Signage will keep motorists advised of travel restrictions. Accessing the Canal website (CapeCodCanal.US, then Bridge Alerts) will inform motorists of schedule changes. Those who want to be notified of changes to the work schedule can sign up for the Bridge Alerts email notifications. Send an email to: CapeCodCanalBridges@usace.army.mil with the subject title “Bridge Alerts.” An email alert is sent when there are major changes to the bridge work status or schedule. The Corps will use Facebook at www.facebook.com/CorpsNewEngland and Twitter at http://twitter.com/CorpsNewEngland to give updates to the bridge work.

Travelers heading to Cape Cod, or anywhere in Massachusetts, can use the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) 5-1-1 number to receive the latest on traffic congestion. Dial 511 on any cell phone in Massachusetts or dial one of these local phone numbers: Metro Boston: (617) 986-5511; Central Mass: (508) 499-5511; Western Mass: (413) 754-5511.

The MassDOT 511 website: http://www.mass511.com, also allows users to sign up for alerts for real-time traffic conditions.