For decades, traffic engineers have been designing wider, straighter, faster roads. Now, some communities are challenging that approach.

The asphalt rebellion seems to begin, in just about every state, at a bridge. It is a country bridge: lightly traveled, decades old and starting to fall apart. The local government wants a few modest repairs. The state transportation department comes in, takes a look and declares that the only way to save the bridge is to tear it down and build something much bigger and costlier in its place. A fight ensues. By the time it is over, a mild-mannered mayor or council member or selectman has turned into a rebel.

For decades, traffic engineers have been designing wider, straighter, faster roads. Now, some communities are challenging that approach.

The asphalt rebellion seems to begin, in just about every state, at a bridge. It is a country bridge: lightly traveled, decades old and starting to fall apart. The local government wants a few modest repairs. The state transportation department comes in, takes a look and declares that the only way to save the bridge is to tear it down and build something much bigger and costlier in its place. A fight ensues. By the time it is over, a mild-mannered mayor or council member or selectman has turned into a rebel.

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More Information: sustainable.state.fl.us/fdi/fscc/news/world/asphalt1.htm