Freeway Freefall

Forty years later, the lifespan of most freeways has come to an end. This leaves urban planners and local governments with a choice: Do they demolish the existing infrastructure to make way for surface roads and boulevards? Or do they invest in freeways yet again, when it makes even less sense to do so – given their crummy past and the ever-rising cost of gasoline?

The CNU believes they should be torn down, and has released a list of ten North American freeways that would benefit from the demolition most. Strange as it may sound, 40 cities clamored to be on this list, which was dubbed “Freeways Without Futures.” Urban planners, elected officials and advocacy groups competed for their freeways to earn this unfavorable title so their concerns could gain recognition and legitimacy.