The road taken : the history and future of America's infrastructure

Description

Renowned historian and engineer Henry Petroski explores the past, present, and future of America's crumbling infrastructure. Physical infrastructure in the United States is crumbling. The American Society of Civil Engineers has, in its latest report, given American roads and bridges a grade of D and C+, respectively, and has described roughly sixty-five thousand bridges in the United States as "structurally deficient." This crisis--and one need look no further than the I-35W bridge collapse in Minnesota to see that it is indeed a crisis--shows little sign of abating short of a massive change in attitude amongst politicians and the American public. In The Road Taken, acclaimed historian Henry Petroski explores our core infrastructure from historical and contemporary perspectives and explains how essential their maintenance is to America’s economic health. Recounting the long history behind America’s highway system, Petroski reveals the genesis of our interstate numbering system (even roads go east-west, odd go north-south), the inspiration behind the center line that has divided roads for decades, and the creation of such taken-for-granted objects as guardrails, stop signs, and traffic lights--all crucial parts of our national and local infrastructure. His history of the rebuilding of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reveals the complex and challenging interplay between government and industry inherent in the conception, funding, design, and building of major infrastructure projects, while his forensic analysis of the street he lives on--its potholes, gutters, and curbs--will engage homeowners everywhere. A compelling work of history, The Road Taken is also an urgent clarion call aimed at American citizens, politicians, and anyone with a vested interest in our economic well-being. The road we take in the next decade toward rebuilding our aging infrastructure will in large part determine our future national prosperity. Content: 1. The Road Taken : givens, choices, forks, sighs -- 2. The Road Not Taken : words, reports, and grades -- 3. Roads : dirt, stone, wood, concrete, asphalt -- 4. Diverged : transcontinental journeys and interstate dreams -- 5. Yellow : center lines, stop signs, traffic lights -- 6. Could Not Travel : earthquakes, envy, and embarrassments -- 7. In the Undergrowth : elevateds, subways, and engineers -- 8. Just as Fair : location, location, location -- and financing -- 9. Perhaps the Better Claim : iconic, signature, and stunning spans -- 10. Because It Was : guardrails, medians, and Jersey barriers -- 11. Grassy and Wanted Wear : streets, lawns, speed bumps, potholes -- 12. The Passing There : sidewalks, curbs, gutters, horses, pavements -- 13. Had Worn Them Really : quality, shoddiness, and survivor bias -- 14. About the Same : good enough bridges and bad enough tools -- 15. Lay in Leaves : triage, budgets, and choice, again -- 16. Trodden Black : corruption, graft, waste, fraud, abuse -- 17. For Another Day : trust funds, fuel taxes, and politics -- 18. How Way Leads on to Way : economics, wrong turns, and political choices -- 19. Ever Come Back : pedestrians, preservationists, parks -- 20. Telling This with a Sigh : public-private partnerships : plusses and minuses -- 21. Ages and Ages Hence : smart cars and pothole-free roads