Unintended Consequences of Urban Highways and Possible Solutions

Date Aired: December 16, 2019 at 9am EST


Presenter: Peter J. Park


PPT and recording available here:


Description: In cities around the world, urban highways have led to adverse effects including displaced communities, worsened air pollution, increased congestion, severed neighborhoods, and staunched economic development. Realizing that urban highways often cause more harm than good, cities are tearing down elevated viaducts and transforming them into boulevards. Notable examples include the Cheonggyecheon River project in Seoul, South Korea, and the Embarcadero Freeway removal in San Francisco, USA. In choosing whether to build or demolish highways or invest in a holistic mobility strategy that includes bus rapid transit, bikeways, and greenways, cities of the future will need to re-evaluate transport options and their impacts. In this webinar, urbanist Peter J. Park will share key lessons from the demolition of the Park East Freeway in Milwaukee, and explore how alternatives to urban highways can bring about lasting solutions to mobility challenges while improving urban equity and sustainability.

Solutions