Marc and Joan Hendel spent decades of savings and two years waiting for their Cape Cod home to be built.

In February, they moved into the brand new Bourne house. After years far away in Iowa, they settled into the upper Cape, close to their New England roots, their families and the beach. A “perfect, ideal place.”

Just a month later, a letter arrived taking that home away.

“On March, 3, we were delivered an eminent domain letter by MassDOT, hand delivered at our door,” said Joan Hendel. “We were shocked. We were stunned. We had no idea that this was even in the plan, or in the works, or our home could be taken after just building it.”

The Hendels are one of 13 property owners whose homes are being taken under eminent domain proceedings for the Sagamore Bridge replacement project.

The

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