Ouch is all you can say about this:
Long ago, the Ohio River helped make this Rust Belt city a national pacesetter in manufacturing and transportation, providing it with an identity and an anchor. But as American life shifted toward the automobile, the river also became an impediment.
Now, after more than four decades of debate, the city intends to begin construction on a $2.6 billion bridge project that is said to be the costliest in the state’s history.
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The opponents often quarreled among themselves as much as with elected officials.
Although friction about some aspects of the project still reverberates, including over its tolls and environmental impact, construction is scheduled to begin this summer, and the two new bridges linking Kentucky and southern Indiana are expected to open in 2016.
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“They’re still fighting the last urban war, which was highway development — but that’s not the nature of the future of the city,” Professor Savitch said. “It will dissipate energy in the central city, where they should be concentrating investment, and instead draw capital to the outer metropolitan area.”
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Supporters dismiss those notions, pointing out that the project has passed rigorous federal requirements and arguing that the bridges will improve quality of life by, among other things, relieving chronic traffic congestion.
But a 2011 study by economists at the University of Toronto concluded that expanding roads does not unclog traffic. In fact, the study found, it worsens it.
Possibility City!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Stunoland // Feb 20, 2013 at 1:10 am
There is no shame in being referred as a rust belt city. That just means a city experienced the bulk of its growth from large scale manufacturing between the late 19th and mid 20th centuries. There is shame in charging ahead with the biggest urban planning mistake of the 21st century, the downtown ORBP, despite the public’s strong desire to split the project.
2 Karl Keeling // Feb 20, 2013 at 12:20 pm
The point about additional lanes not relieving congestion is true, it’s the movie theatre effect – people will create more space between themselves and other people (cars) when empty seats (road lanes) are available for buffering.
3 Nova China // Feb 20, 2013 at 4:23 pm
I watched an interesting documentary about the impact of additional expressways and bridges on New York City, which made the same point as the study. New and easier access to rural land leads to more, usually unfettered, outward development and shifts in population, which adds to wear on existing roads and increases the need for new ones. It’s never enough.
This is unlikely to happen in eastern Jefferson County as long as the Riverfields folks et al control local politics, but I see another big-time combo Veterans Parkway/bedroom community boom coming for Indiana like a burglar in a fire station.
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