Cape Cod Times top stories: Canal bridges update, erosion, and future of popular beach

'Tis the season for holiday festivities, local events, and your Cape Cod Times news roundup. It was a busy week for the Times' website, including news on an erosion control plan for Sandy Neck Beach, a new 65+ program in Chatham that offers art and fitness activities, and more. There is also a look at why dozens of sea turtles washed up on Cape Cod beaches recently, with a story and video.

Sports has been keeping hot in the cold weather with coverage of Mashpee football's state title game and volleyball all-stars.

Here's a look at the most popular stories on the Cape Cod Times website this week.

There will be four Cape Cod bridges once Bourne and Sagamore are replaced

According to new designs, the Bourne and Sagamore bridges will be replaced with four, three-lane bridges carrying traffic across the Cape Cod Canal.

Each new bridge will send traffic in just one direction - either on Cape or off Cape - and the Sagamore Bridge replacements, at least, will include wider lanes.

The aging Cape Cod landmarks, which both cross the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, have been deemed functionally obsolete and need to be replaced.

How will traffic get across the Cape Cod Canal during bridge construction, and which of the current bridges will be replaced first? Click the story link to find out.

More: There will be four Cape Cod bridges once Bourne, Sagamore are replaced. Traffic impact.

Marconi Beach may be closed for 2025 summer season

Will there be no access to Marconi Beach in Wellfleet in 2025?

That isn't out of the realm of possibility, according to the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore, a group that is seeking to raise $125,000 to replace the beach stairs that were damaged during a September storm.

The damaged stairs lasted just a few months after being installed in the spring of 2024, at a cost of $246,419, according to the Cape Cod National Seashore, which the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore say can't afford to replace.

How much would it cost to replace the stairs again, and is there an alternative? Click the link to read the full story.

More: Popular Cape Cod beach may close in 2025: Group hopes speedy fundraising will keep it open

$6.6M erosion control plan at Sandy Neck nears start in Barnstable

Sandy Neck Beach Park on Cape Cod Bay fills up with water consistently, but the problems that arise from that could be on their way to being solved through a $6.6 million project aimed at enhancing the dune, relocating parking and the gatehouse, and making other improvements.

Erosion concerns are nothing new at this location, and the new control project - set to start in soon - has roots going back to 2015.

Click the story link to read more and find out what the project entails and when it will start.

More: 'In the red zone.' $6.6M erosion control plan at Sandy Neck nears start in Barnstable

$11.4 million override for Brewster Sea Camps fails at the polls

Plans for repurposing the former Cape Cod Sea Camps properties have been put on hold after Brewster voters rejected an $11.4 million debt exclusion.

Those opposed to the proposed debt exclusion at the town meeting argued for separating plans for each property into separate votes. Many wanted more definitive answers about proposed housing and a proposed wastewater treatment plant.

What would have happened had the debt exclusion passed, and what's next for the property? Click the story link to find out.

More: $11.4 million override for Brewster Sea Camps fails at the polls. Here's what we know.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Canal bridges, erosion, Marconi Beach: Cape Cod Times top stories