This Freeway Sucks -- Let's Decommission It

The vast majority of urban freeways were built in the mid-20th century. This means that, structurally, many are reaching the end of their useful life, so state DOTs are looking at rebuilding -- or even rethinking altogether. So what should we do with our deteriorating freeways? Well, in the Twin Cities, they have ideas.

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Special thanks to Our Streets for use of assets from the Reimagining I-94 report, and all the groups who helped put on the Slow Roll event. Consider supporting the great work all these organizations do!

Also, read Luke Birtzer's excellent recap of the Slow Roll event here!

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[SirTurboDave]

The inner loop project in Rochester, NY is a great example of what can be achieved when filling in freeways. After just doing the eastern section, we've seen hundreds of millions of dollars worth of development that includes mixed-use buildings and a much prettier environment to exist in. We're now working on the northern part of the loop that will include beautifying the Amtrak station there and bringing back the street grid from 100 years ago. We're lucky that every single level of government (state, county, and city) is finally onboard for moving away from car dependency.

[MrStrickland]

the irony of us calling I-75/85 in atlanta ‘the connector’ when it tore apart the fabric of the city

[mattgalper]

I'm not so sure that some of these state DOTs wouldn't build an "I-94" today. Texas and even California come to mind. Both are either trying to expand highways in city centers or are building new ones through residential neighborhoods. Even in Pennsylvania we still waste our money on crap like this though not through any major city centers in recent years.

[rpvitiello]

Recessed urban freeways seem like the ideal location to build cut and cover style subway lines, since the cut par is already done. Then build needed high density housing above it.

[literallyanythingelseother]

If 94 and 35 get covered my life will improved greatly. It totally disconnects south Minneapolis from downtown. The 35/94/55 cross over is hellish

[theshireling]

"Acknowledgement isn't the same as repair" Well said, ODOT made a similar statement as they ready their plans to widen I-75 through Cincinnati to 20 lanes in some places. Thank you Reconnecting Communities...

[apadgettski]

It might be because I’m a Minneapolitan, but this is my favorite video you’ve ever done. What a beautiful city with so much potential.

[jimmycalzone]

One of the most surreal experiences I have had in Minneapolis was visiting the historical, and densely populated, neighborhood of Stevens Square when the adjacent section of I-94 was closed for repair. Instead of the freeway hum which is always present in the neighborhood, I heard birdsong, casual conversation, and children playing on the playground. It felt like I had time traveled to 1910.

[Zeyev]

Yet another case showing how States were allowed to violate the original purpose of the "interstate" and "defense" highways concept by routing through cities instead of NEAR cities. A tragedy still unfolding. Thanks for highlighting this one dreadful example.

[jpberka]

Thanks for this video. I wrote a paper on this very project when a student at the U of MN years ago. I had a professor argue with me that she saw the interstates as creators of freedom. I tried to use Rondo as my defense of my opposition to her argument, but she wasn't having it.

[Skip]

I’m from Detroit, and with all the hullabaloo about the decommissioning of I-375, I thought that it was going to be some sort of urbanist dreamland utopia. Instead they are turning it from an 8-lane limited access freeway into a 6-lane massive arterial stroad. So. . .progress?

[spencerkooiman]

Twin Cities resident here. I work right off the Olson Memorial Hwy in Golden Valley, MN I travel on that road and 94 into the South St Anthony neighborhood to satellite offices for work. I try my best to avoid any freeways as much as possible when I go from office to office. I really like the ideas that Our Streets is trying to put out. (I even follow them and Laura the board president on X). Even tho I live way out in an outer ring suburb, I really want the metro to become and even more desirable place to live and make it more walkable and transit oriented. Like I said I live in an outer ring suburb, if the transit was more convenient to take to work I definitely would.

[fallenshallrise]

All these giant, multi-lane roads and highways cutting cities up like a pizza just encourage people to use our most populated areas as a shortcut from and to destinations outside of the city itself. The good news is that we have acres and acres of empty and free land in our urban centers that we can turn into millions of affordable leasehold apartments, row houses, low cost retail and greenspace.

[barryrobbins]

1:30 In this animation it is entirely appropriate that this dystopian highway compares the years 1984 and 1947. Coincidentally, the numbers correspond to the novel “1984” and the year of the novels first draft.

[critiqueofthegothgf]

you don't understand Mr. City Nerd, I LOVE pm 2.5 and other carcinogens! they're a symbol of freedom

[literallyanythingelseother]

It's really nice to see that MNdot is actually acknowledging what the highways did and how bad they are. I feel like there is a ton of states that would never happen

[cantin]

1:34 This really does visually put into perspective how people's homes are bulldozed for road projects. Very depressing.

[Jonsolski]

Living in downtown Kansas City, the north side of the downtown freeway loop could easily be another candidate for freeway removal like this. Great ideas here!

[sirtic]

As someone who lives in St. Paul, lived in Minneapolis for many years and a public transit worker, I knew what this title was all about. I was able to give my feedback on this project just by chance at a local library and took a survey online too and it's refreshing to hear something like this happening.

[cheeto]

Minneapolis has been undergoing a huge urban transformation since 2005, by 2050 we will look nothing like we used to - a lot better in my opinion. 2000-2050 is largely undoing the woes of what we did 1950-2000