Tearing Down Highways Can Relieve Traffic Jams

[Lunican]

4 Cases Of How Tearing Down A Highway Can Relieve Traffic Jams



One example is reducing traffic congestion by eliminating roads. Though our transportation planners still operate from the orthodoxy that the best way to untangle traffic is to build more roads, doing so actually proves counterproductive in some cases. There is even a mathematical theorem to explain why: “The Braess Paradox” (which sounds rather like a Robert Ludlum title) established that the addition of extra capacity to a road network often results in increased congestion and longer travel times. The reason has to do with the complex effects of individual drivers all trying to optimize their routes. The Braess paradox is not just an arcane bit of theory either â€" it plays frequently in real world situation.

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/07/06/huh-4-cases-of-how-tearing-down-a-highway-can-relieve-traffic-jams-and-help-save-a-city/

[hiddentrack]

This is a really fascinating subject, and I first read about it in reference to the Cheonggyecheon Highway/Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul (the before/after image you posted). It was also covered in an episode of e2, which you can view online at http://www.e2-series.com/. Just click 'webcasts', and the program (Seoul: The Stream of Consciousness) is under the e2 transport section.

[BridgeTroll]

Interesting article... I lived in San Jose during the debate about the Embarcadero demolision project.  It was an ugly elevated highway along the bay.  It is much nicer now.  Of course San Fran is home to a great public transportation system...