Recommended Freeway Plan F-1 (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: neighborhoods, construction, costs)

[I_Like_Spam]

During the golden age of freeway construction, futurists had quite a plan for an extensive road construction program which would have changed Pittsburgh's present. Would have made the Mon Valley and Penn Hills a lot closer to the city, and probably would have made those areas a lot more attractive in the current era.

Pittsburgh Highways:* Pittsburgh's Cancelled Expressways

[bradjl2009]

There's a very good reason highways aren't built right through urban neighborhoods anymore....

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

There's a very good reason highways aren't built right through urban neighborhoods anymore....

Agreed. I'm all for increased cohesion and connectivity between the city and suburbanites but NOT if it comes with the "collateral damage" of ruining neighborhoods in the city the way I-279 ruined East Allegheny.

[PIT2MAD]

While most of those ideas would have decimated many of the neighborhoods they passed through, I feel like they really missed a great opportunity to make Saw Mill Run Blvd a little bit more of an expressway, at least with a couple more grade-separated interchanges.

Pittsburgh Highways:* Saw Mill Run Expressway (Cancelled)

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Agreed. I'm all for increased cohesion and connectivity between the city and suburbanites but NOT if it comes with the "collateral damage" of ruining neighborhoods in the city the way I-279 ruined East Allegheny.

The truth, however, is that East Allegheny was really dumpy before I279 was built.


Not saying that the highway is the cause of the area picking up, but it isn't like the state picked an idyllic village to rip out several blocks of.

[armourereric]

I have been very familiar with this plan for years but it was made for a Pittsburgh tat was to be much more populated. Also, I really don't think this plan was even remotely possible from a topographic standpoint.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

The truth, however, is that East Allegheny was really dumpy before I279 was built.

Of course it was dumpy by then. Plans for that started in the 50s. Nothing discourages investment in a neighborhood quite so much as a decades long process of planning to put a freeway through an area.

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by armourereric

I have been very familiar with this plan for years but it was made for a Pittsburgh tat was to be much more populated. Also, I really don't think this plan was even remotely possible from a topographic standpoint.

It's possible topographically, you can see that they planned many of the roads to be located in natural ravines and river valleys. If they can bore two mile long holes through Mt. Wash, then any route is possible.

Obviously, the slight improvements of convenience for drivers would have never offset the construction costs and the complete destruction that the highways would have leveled on many neighborhoods.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

Of course it was dumpy by then. Plans for that started in the 50s. Nothing discourages investment in a neighborhood quite so much as a decades long process of planning to put a freeway through an area.

Some of the dumpiest areas decades ago now the nicest.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by airwave09

It's possible topographically, you can see that they planned many of the roads to be located in natural ravines and river valleys. If they can bore two mile long holes through Mt. Wash, then any route is possible.

Obviously, the slight improvements of convenience for drivers would have never offset the construction costs and the complete destruction that the highways would have leveled on many neighborhoods.

The highways that actually were built offer a whole lot more than a "slight" improvement for travelers.


The trip to Monroeville from town or points north and west was a real adventure before the Parkway East was built. 279 was a Godsend for commuters to and from Cranberry, or Wexford.


Not every highway meets the expectations the builders had in mind, but there are plenty which create a good deal of convenience for the traveling public.