• Octavia Boulevard

    San Francisco’s Central Freeway was one of two freeways to see their demise after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Originally envisioned as part of a grand spider web of freeways meant to cross through San Francisco many times over, the Central Freeway grew to nothing more than a spur. Despite the...Read more

  • Embarcadero Freeway removal

    San Francisco's Embarcadero Freeway was originally designed to connect the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge but was never completed. The Embarcadero only succeeded in cutting off the city from the waterfront and running long ramps deep into the neighborhood fabric. In the most used sections,...Read more

  • I-375

    I-375 is a 1.06-mile spur that pierces Detroit's downtown. Begun in 1959, this 4-lane, below-grade freeway disconnected Detroit's Riverfront, Greektown, Eastern Market, and Stadium districts. Its legacy is tied to failed urban renewal efforts that destroyed thriving black neighborhoods known for...Read more

  • The Big Dig

    When Boston opened the Central Artery highway in 1959, it effectively serviced an estimated 75,000 vehicles daily. The construction of the highway displaced 20,000 residents during construction and cut off Boston’s North End and Waterfront neighborhoods from its downtown. By the 1990s, the Artery...Read more