It's been over 60 years, but at long last a missing stretch of I-95 between New Jersey and Pennsylvania has been completed. Meanwhile, disrepair threatens the rest of the system.
For eight years, Kabir Chibber writes, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has been working to close the last remaining gap in Interstate 95, bringing to completion what was once dubbed "the greatest public works program in the history of the world."
The Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 95 Interchange Project, slated to open by Sept. 24, closes a gap that traces its origins "to local opposition—it was to cut through Hopewell Valley, an affluent area near Princeton—and the energy crisis of the 1970s." The project's total cost amounts to $400 million, funding the construction of six overhead bridges, toll plazas, and flyover ramps.
The project brings to a close a more hopeful era for American public infrastructure that now seems very far away as the Highway Trust Fund experiences long-term insolvency and plans to maintain "crumbling" highways remain murky.
FULL STORY: The last project from America’s golden age of infrastructure is almost finished—61 years later
How One Massachusetts Governor Rejected Car-Oriented Development
Fifty years ago, Governor Francis W. Sargent nixed a proposed expressway and set in motion a transportation future for Boston that would be remarkably different from many other U.S. cities.
New Interchange Planned Along Pennsylvania Turnpike
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Trump's State of the Union: More on Infrastructure in Democrats' Response
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Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
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San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park
The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.
Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.
Montana Bill Promotes Parking Reform
A bill before the Montana state senate would bar cities from requiring more than one parking spot per new housing unit.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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