Good afternoon,
A public meeting was held last week on the dreaded Interstate 95 project in Wilmington.
The project, which involves overhauling the aging viaducts that run through much of the city, has brought doom and gloom predictions, despite being years away.
Delaware Public Media, noted that attendees proposed a cap over-95. It turns out that in some major cities, freeway caps have become an option in attempting to correct wrongs that divided neighborhoods and gaining some precious real estate.
A cap is an earthen cover that results in the interstate becoming a tunnel of sorts. Parks and even buildings can occupy the cap.
In the case of Wilmington, we do know that I-95 essentially cut the city in half and accelerated the decline of many previously stable neighborhoods.
The cost of such a project would be astronomical, perhaps the equivalent of adding a few badly needed schools in Wilmington.
Additional real estate would also not be attractive for the redevelopment of a smaller city that has plenty of land.
The proposal brings to mind some well-intentioned people who suggested burying powerlines in a downtown Newark that is now populated by power poles.
It sounded like a good idea until the price tag (if memory serves the figure was $16 million) was disclosed.
The other day, an individual pitched the idea. For some reason, the freeway cap came to mind.
Have a great rest of the day.
If this newsletter was passed along and you like what you have read, sign up here to get your own five-day-a-week copy. – Doug Rainey, publisher.
