Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

In this week's episode of "Moving Beyond the Automobile," Streetfilms takes you on a guided tour of past, present and future highway removal projects with John Norquist of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

Some of the most well-known highway removals in America -- like New York City's West Side Highway and San Francisco's Embarcadero Freeway -- have actually been unpredictable highway collapses brought on by structural deficiencies or natural disasters. It turns out there are good reasons for not rebuilding these urban highways once they become rubble: They drain the life from the neighborhoods around them, they suck wealth and value out of the city, and they don't even move traffic that well during rush hour.

Now several cities are pursuing highway removals more intentionally, as a way to reclaim city space for housing, parks, and economic development. CNU has designated ten "Freeways Without Futures" here in North America, and in this video, you'll hear about the benefits of tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, the Sheridan Expressway in the Bronx, the Skyway and Route 5 in Buffalo, and the Claiborne Expressway in New Orleans.

Streetfilms would like to thank The Fund for the Environment & Urban Life for making this series possible.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

NYPD’s Red Light Criminalization Marks ‘Obscene’ Escalation: Advocates

The dangers of NYPD's new policy are vast. Here's the second installment of our ongoing series on a quiet change in police practices.

May 5, 2025

No, Gov. Hochul Hasn’t ‘Fully Funded’ the MTA Capital Plan

We'd sure hate to see this debt bomb go off.

May 5, 2025

Decision 2025: Mayoral Question 2 Seeks Answers on Slow Buses

Question 2: Mayor Adams didn't speed up buses. How would you? Let's hear from the top candidates...

May 5, 2025

Capital Idea: Meet Our New Albany Correspondent, Amy Sohn

Streetsblog has hired the longtime journalist, writer and mayoral press aide to cover the State Capitol. That's an investment in you, dear reader.

May 5, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: NYPD Bike Crackdown Edition

NYPD's criminalization of several common cycling violations attracted plenty of haters after Streetsblog exposed it on Friday. Plus more news.

May 5, 2025
See all posts