Third Cape Cod Canal road bridge

The Third Cape Cod Canal road bridge is a road bridge connecting Cape Cod to mainland Massachusetts across the waterway. Its vertical lift system raises the bridge deck to allow both rail traffic and maritime vessels to pass through underneath.

Construction took place between 1933 and 1935 as part of public works programs and replaced an earlier bascule bridge from 1910. This new structure represented a major infrastructure upgrade for the region during that era.

The bridge links two communities and shows how important waterway traffic was to the region's development. Visitors can still watch the lift mechanism operate when larger vessels pass through the canal.

The bridge is freely accessible and visitors can walk or drive across it while viewing the waterway below. Visit on a clear day to fully appreciate the sight lines across the canal and surrounding area.

When completed, this was briefly the longest vertical lift span globally before being surpassed by other structures. Knowing this detail gives visitors a sense of how impressive the engineering achievement was for its time.

GPS coordinates: 41.77620,-70.54360

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:10