The 2012 Freeways without Futures list makes the case that removing these highways and replacing them with boulevards and street surfaces is cost-effective for cities and add value to communities.
Here's the top 12 urban highways with the best opportunity for transformation:
1. I-10/Claiborne Overpass, New Orleans, La.
2. I-895/Sheridan Expressway, New York City (Bronx)
3. Route 34/Oak Street Connector, New Haven, Conn.
4. Route 5/Skyway, Buffalo, N.Y.
5. I-395/Overtown Expressway, Miami, Fla.
6. I-70, St. Louis, Mo.
7. West Shoreway, Cleveland, Ohio
8. I-490/Inner Loop, Rochester, N.Y.
9. I-81, Syracuse, N.Y.
10. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto
11. Aetna Viaduct, Hartford, Conn.
12. Route 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle, Wash.
The freeways are ranked based on the following factors: the age and design of structures, redevelopment potential, potential cost savings, ability to improve both overall mobility and local access, existence of pending infrastructure decisions, and community support.
All of the freeways are in various stages. Some are being advocated for removal by community members, others are in the middle of preliminary project studies, and a few are in the process of being removed.
Here are some interesting statistics from a few of the highway removal projects:
Skeptical that urban highway removal is a benefit to cities? Check out cities like Milwaukee, San Francisco, or Portland that have already removed their urban highways.
Photo: WSDOT/Flickr
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com