Part of Cape Cod Canal should be filled in

Part of Cape Cod Canal should be filled in

September 16, 2014

The canal creates needless bottlenecks every summer. Part of it should be filled in.

The Cape Cod Canal was an economic boon when it was built 100 years ago. That's no longer true. Today, container ships can travel the waters around the Cape without risk, rendering the canal obsolete. We don't need it for shipping. We desperately need a quarter-mile of it filled in, permitting new roads to solve the traffic problem.

An even wider strip might make sense. That would allow the commonwealth to lease and sell more real estate to pay for the project without impact on taxpayers.

Add three lanes in each direction. Leave room for more, in case they're needed later. Hook them up to the major arteries and some local roads. Add bike paths and sidewalks on the new strip. That would allow the sidewalks to be eliminated on the Sagamore and Bourne bridges, widening the car lanes.

Safety would improve. People would get on and off the Cape more easily and when they wanted. The pleasure boats that now comprise 99 percent of the on-water activity would hardly be affected.

The canal is 7 miles long. Filling in a quarter-mile of that would leave plenty of room to maneuver.

Walter Ramsley

Yarmouth Port
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Jesus Walt, have you ever listened to yourself?