by We’ve reached the middle of summer on Cape Cod and so far it’s been a busy summer with a broken wind turbine blade in Vineyard, Carnival preparations in Provincetown, and more.
Whether you love sports and have enjoyed the Cape Cod Times’ coverage of the Cape Cod Baseball League, or you love the arts and have followed our theater reviews, there is something for everyone.
By the way, did you vote for the best beach in Massachusetts? And while you’re at it, vote for the Cape League’s best pitcher, infielder and outfielder of the week in our polls.
In case you missed all that and more, here are the most-read articles of the week on the Cape Cod Times website.
No swimming on Cape Cod’s famous beach
It is now safe to swim at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, but earlier this week the beach was temporarily closed to swimming due to bacteria levels exceeding standards, according to a Facebook post from the Cape Cod National Seashore and an alert posted on the Seashore’s website.
According to the Facebook post, samples collected by Seashore staff prompted the closure.
Marconi Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean. It features miles of open beach stretching north to south of the parking lot.
You can track beach closures across Massachusetts on the state Department of Public Health’s interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard website.
Swimming prohibited at Marconi beach:“Swimming can make you sick.” Popular Cape Cod beach closed to swimming. What we know.
Coast Guard faces personnel shortage
Due to staffing shortages, the Cape Cod Canal station recently became a mission-scheduled station, meaning it no longer operates on a 24/7 schedule, said Chief Boatswain Larry Johnson.
The Coast Guard is experiencing the largest personnel shortage in its history, and that shortage is expected to worsen throughout 2024, Public Affairs Specialist Diolanda Caballero said in a statement.
The station will focus its patrols on weekends and peak shipping times, Johnson said. Visits to the station will occur on weekdays.
When not at the station, the crew spends more time on the water, carrying out safety checks.
To operate 24/7, the crew must have 18 members. The Cape Cod Canal station has only 12, one more than is needed to operate 24/7, Johnson added.
“Everybody’s having a hard time recruiting right now,” Lt. Adam Schmid said. “I think it’s just, you know, in my opinion, it depends on what some of the kids are interested in. There are other opportunities out there.”
Coast Guard Patrol Changes in Cape Cod Canal:“It’s a tough time right now.” Fewer Coast Guard recruits mean changes at Cape Cod Canal
It’s time to get to work on the new Sagamore Bridge
With newly awarded funding totaling $993 million through the Bipartisan Bridge Infrastructure Investment Program, work can now begin on replacing the Sagamore Bridge.
“We are now beginning what is called the design-build phase, and we hope to have construction underway no later than 2027,” Gov. Maura Healey said at a news conference Tuesday morning at the Sagamore State Recreation Area.
The construction period will last eight to 10 years, Jonathan Gulliver, state Department of Transportation highway administrator, said of the Sagamore Bridge project.
The new Sagamore Bridge, Gulliver explained, will be built “just inside the existing bridge, inside the canal.” While work on the new bridge is underway, the existing bridge will remain open to traffic.
With funding secured and work having begun on the Sagamore Bridge replacement, Healey said the Bourne Bridge is next.
“We’re now going to be very focused, pedaling hard on the next stages and going from Sagamore to the Bourne Bridge.”
In 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a report concluding that building new bridges would improve travel, safety, and accessibility to and from Cape Town.
With funds secured, work on the new Sagamore Bridge will begin:“Pedal hard.” With Sagamore Bridge replacement funded, focus now on first steps
Wellfleet Harbormaster’s Crew Walks Off the Job
Details are still lacking as to why Wellfleet Interim Harbor Master Brittany Tilton and a staff member walked off the job last Friday afternoon, leaving officials scrambling to provide marina services the following weekend.
The town had named Tilton as interim harbormaster after William Sullivan left the Wellfleet post to take the manager’s job in Provincetown on July 1. Tilton could not be reached for comment. Sullivan said there was more to the story of the walkout, but declined to elaborate.
According to City Council President John Wolf, “there were no problems” after the strike, as staff from the public works department, police and fire departments provided assistance.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to provide emergency services to boaters in the Port of Wellfleet, according to a news release issued Tuesday morning by the City of Wellfleet.
Disembarkation of personnel at Wellfleet Marina:U.S. Coast Guard steps in after Wellfleet harbormaster’s crew walks off the job
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