20 Infrastructure Projects That Were Never Completed

This listicle examines 20 actual infrastructure projects throughout the United States that were planned, budgeted, and in some instances started but never completed. Each example illustrates how changes in politics, cost overruns, judicial decisions regarding the environment, and community opposition altered the trajectory of large-scale public projects. Starting with urban highways in New York, Boston, Seattle, and Baltimore, through rail links in Baltimore and Cincinnati, and even proposed bridges and seaplane airports, these projects embodied the vision of mid-century infrastructure culture.

1. The West Side Elevated Highway Replacement, New York City

The West Side Elevated Highway, which collapsed in 1973, left a torn gash in Manhattan’s riverfront area along the Hudson River. But city planners were already considering an ambitious alternative: to tear down the crumbling steel highway and build a six-lane interstate highway system they dubbed Westway. The proposal offered the promise of hidden roadways, waterfront parks, and finally some relief for a bottlenecked Lower Manhattan. With federal dollars pouring in, engineers were laying out complex plans that would have transformed the shoreline itself. The project called for massive landfilling in the Hudson River, to build a new foundation for the highway. It was a bold combination of transportation and urban renewal—and a sign of a city ready to move forward after a long period of decline.

2. The Chicago Crosstown Expressway

For many years, a grand north-south route was planned to cut through the city’s western neighborhoods. The Crosstown Expressway was to be a six-lane route, some 35 miles long, running from the Kennedy Expressway to the Dan Ryan. It was to relieve congestion on already congested interstates and get suburban commuters to and from work more quickly. In the 1960s, land acquisition started, with whole city blocks torn down in advance. Concrete ramps were erected in a few isolated areas, a testament to a future that seemed almost assured. The Crosstown Expressway was a product of the interstate age, when highways were a badge of progress.

3. The Long Island Sound Bridge from Rye to Oyster Bay

Since the 1950s, there have been plans for a massive bridge over the Long Island Sound, connecting Rye to Oyster Bay and extending Interstate 287 over the Sound. The purpose of the bridge was to provide a direct link between Westchester County and Long Island, with proponents claiming it would reduce traffic congestion in New York City. Initial plans called for massive bridges towering above the Sound, commensurate with other large bridges on the East Coast. Studies included wind resistance, shipping channels, and environmental factors. The project was brought up several times by governors, touted as a game-changing shortcut for millions of motorists.

4. The Lower Manhattan Expressway

During the mid-20th century, Robert Moses, an urban planner, planned an expressway that would be ten lanes wide and would intersect Lower Manhattan. The expressway would connect the Holland Tunnel to the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges. The expressway would cut through the SoHo and Little Italy neighborhoods, destroying hundreds of buildings, including cast-iron lofts that would be considered architectural landmarks in the future. Moses believed that the expressway would ease congestion and meet the growing demand for cars. Federal interstate money was available, and initial property purchases had begun. The project reflected the time when highways were considered a symbol of progress.

5. The Cincinnati Subway

The Cincinnati Subway is a hidden, silent legacy of a daring plan from the early twentieth century. The project broke ground in 1920, planned as a rapid transit loop built from the bed of an abandoned canal. Tunnels were excavated, stations were begun, and extensive concrete infrastructure was put in place. The goal was to alleviate traffic and spur rapid growth. However, expenses escalated as the post-World War I inflation affected the city budgets. Political stalemates and disputes over additional funding brought the project to a standstill. By 1928, the project had come to a halt, with a significant portion of the tunnel infrastructure complete but unused.

6. The Original Plan for the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway

The Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway was completed in 1984, but its original plan was never fully realized. In the mid-20th century, the original plan called for a massive series of industrial ports and economic centers to stretch along the route. Legislators touted it as a competitor to the Mississippi River, promising a massive amount of growth in the Southeast. The project required a massive amount of earthmoving to link the Tennessee River to the Tombigbee River, and billions of dollars of federal money helped to build the canal over several decades. The original plan envisioned a massive amount of industrial activity and commercial development along the route.

7. The Interstate 710 Extension Through South Pasadena

For decades, a proposal to extend Interstate 710 north from Alhambra to intersect with Interstate 210 in Pasadena had been a goal of California policymakers. The aim was to close a gap in the freeway system in Los Angeles and improve the flow of goods from the ports. Original concepts in the 1950s called for a straight shot cutting through the residential areas of South Pasadena. Homes were acquired, land cleared, and residents relocated in preparation for the roadwork. Blueprints were drawn up by state engineers for elevated roadways and complex interchange systems. The road extension represented the car-centric planning philosophy that characterized postwar Los Angeles, where policymakers felt that improved traffic flow warranted a high degree of neighborhood disruption.

8. The New Orleans Riverfront Expressway

During the 1960s, there were proposals for an elevated expressway along the Mississippi River in New Orleans. The Riverfront Expressway would have seen Interstate 10 go directly through the French Quarter of New Orleans. Engineers believed that the expressway would speed traffic from the suburbs and improve regional connectivity. Initial proposals included concrete pillars alongside buildings that were several centuries old. Federal interstate dollars supported the project, and construction was already underway in other areas. Critics began to emerge among preservationists and local merchants. Neighborhood residents were concerned that the expressway would cast a shadow over the architecture of the French Quarter and hurt tourism.

9. The California Peripheral Canal

In the 1970s, a massive water diversion scheme, known as the Peripheral Canal, was proposed for California, which would circumvent the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The intention was to provide a more reliable source of water for Southern California and the agricultural regions of the Central Valley. A 43-mile-long canal was proposed to divert water around the sensitive waterways of the delta. It was touted as a means of bringing the water management system in California up to date and protecting against salinity intrusion. The financing initiatives were placed on the ballot in 1982 but were defeated after a statewide campaign. Critics pointed out that the Peripheral Canal could damage fish habitats and ecosystems in the north.

10. Buffalo Skyway Replacement Bridge

Buffalo’s Skyway, a structure that had been carrying Route 5 over the Buffalo River since the 1950s, was a reflection of the city’s changing aspirations. In the early years of the 21st century, plans emerged to replace the Skyway with a new signature bridge that would reconnect the downtown area with the waterfront. Plans for the new bridge included dramatic cables and landscaping, while proponents suggested that the new bridge might revitalize the Lake Erie shoreline. Feasibility studies were conducted to determine the best design and costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars, which soon tempered initial enthusiasm for the project. Initially, there was considerable civic interest in the project, which was seen as an opportunity to redefine Buffalo.

11. The Seattle R. H. Thomson Expressway

During the 1960s, Seattle city planners proposed the R. H. Thomson Expressway, which would be a large north-south freeway cutting through the heart of the city’s residential neighborhoods. This expressway would link Interstate 5 with State Route 520, passing through neighborhoods and parkland. In preparation for the project, engineers identified areas for land acquisition and removed several city blocks. They even installed concrete foundations for on-ramps in the vicinity of the Washington Park Arboretum. The proposed expressway was supposed to alleviate growing traffic congestion, a problem that reflected the national movement to build out the interstate highway system and transform the American urban landscape.

12. The Interstate 40 Through Overton Park, Memphis

During the 1960s, the original plan for Interstate 40 was to cut directly through Overton Park in Memphis, forming a quick route from downtown Memphis to the eastern suburbs. The land was cleared, and the groundwork for construction was laid. Supporters of the project claimed that this route provided the most efficient and economic route. With federal highway dollars behind the project, initial approvals were pushed forward. This project represented the common thinking of the time, prioritizing efficient routes over community concerns. Authorities claimed that the growing need for traffic justified the intrusion into the park, while citizens took the issue to court, claiming that the park’s historical and ecological significance should be protected.

13. The Washington Beltway Inner Loop Through Takoma Park

In the 1960s, federal planners considered extending Interstate 95 through Takoma Park to finish an inner loop of the Capital Beltway. The route would have cut directly through existing Maryland and District of Columbia neighborhoods. Houses were purchased, families relocated, and city blocks torn down in preparation. Engineers drew up plans for elevated portions and interchanges to direct suburban traffic into downtown Washington. Authorities believed the freeway would relieve congestion and enhance regional mobility. Federal interstate dollars were allocated, and preliminary construction work indicated serious intentions. The project reflected the period’s belief in highways as the central framework for metropolitan expansion. However, local opposition soon increased as citizens worried that the freeway would split their strong, cohesive neighborhoods apart and increase air pollution.

14. The Southwest Corridor Expressway, Boston

The Southwest Corridor Expressway in Boston was planned to be an eight-lane elevated highway that would run through the Southwest Corridor to directly connect Interstate 95 with the downtown area. To build this expressway, hundreds of homes in areas like Roxbury and Jamaica Plain would have to be demolished, and entire city blocks would be cleared, leaving large areas of vacant land in their wake. Engineers had designed massive overpasses and intricate interchange systems for this expressway, and planners claimed that it would solve congestion problems and bring modern transportation to the region. The expressway project was supported by federal funding and even had some property acquisitions under its belt, which indicated the commitment of its planners, but it faced opposition from citizens concerned with the social costs of the project.

15. The New York City Second Avenue Elevated Replacement

While the long-awaited Second Avenue Subway was finally starting to come together in the 21st century, other attempts at replacing the Second Avenue Elevated had come up short. The original Second Avenue Elevated line was demolished in 1942, with a modern underground subway system promised in its wake. Plans were drawn up in the 1920s and again in the 1950s, and by the 1970s, preliminary tunneling work had begun on several routes. The subway line was intended to alleviate congestion on the Lexington Avenue Line, and at times, financial commitments seemed strong and contracts were awarded. Manhattan’s East Side residents were eager for rapid progress to be made below ground. However, an economic crisis in 1975 proved a crushing blow, thrusting New York City into deep financial trouble and halting many capital projects.

16. The Staten Island-Brooklyn Bridge

For a long time, the idea of a bridge connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn, crossing the Narrows alongside the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, was considered by New York authorities. The initial plans were floated in the 1920s and then periodically in the following decades. Proponents believed that the bridge would alleviate traffic congestion and stimulate development on Staten Island’s South Shore. Initial engineering studies examined the effects of wind resistance, ship clearance, and anchoring, with some right-of-way issues being quietly discussed. The bridge was proposed as a means of shortening commutes and reducing the need to go through Manhattan.

17. The Baltimore Red Line Light Rail Project

The Baltimore Red Line was proposed to be a 14-mile east-west light rail line that would traverse the city, connecting Woodlawn to Johns Hopkins Bayview and major employment hubs. Tunnels would be built beneath downtown Baltimore, and lines would be constructed on the surface in outlying neighborhoods. With federal funding commitments in place and environmental studies completed, proponents of the project claimed it would provide much-needed transportation opportunities for underserved populations. Preliminary engineering contracts were put out, and local officials touted the project as a catalyst for change in the city. Construction was on the horizon after years of planning. However, in 2015, the State of Maryland canceled the project, with the governor stating that the project was too expensive and that funds would be redirected to improve highways elsewhere.

18. The Chicago Airport on Lake Michigan

In the 1960s, Chicago’s visionaries proposed a massive airport on a constructed island in Lake Michigan. The proposed project would have had its runways extend from the constructed land northeast of the city center, as proponents argued that it would reduce the burden on O’Hare and Midway airports. Engineers examined the wave patterns, ice flow, and the structural support required in the deep water. The original plans included several runways and terminals constructed directly out of the surface of Lake Michigan. The project represented the mid-century vision of engineering, as proposed by the city authorities, who described it as a future aviation plan. However, environmental concerns and economic factors later dampened the enthusiasm for the project, as the cost of developing stable land in the deep water of Lake Michigan was high.

19. The Interstate 695 Inner Harbor Extension, Baltimore

The Interstate 695 Inner Harbor Extension in Baltimore was born during a time of aggressive interstate construction, when visionary planners envisioned building I-695 right through the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. The proposed route would cut through the waterfront neighborhoods, connecting the major roads with a continuous urban highway. Initial designs showed elevated roadways weaving past historic piers and busy business districts. Federal highway dollars supported the early stages of planning, symbolizing a sense of faith in the ability of highways to be catalysts for revitalization. However, public attitudes changed as the prospects for Inner Harbor redevelopment began to take shape. Local leaders began to envision the waterfront area as a destination, and not just a route.

20. The Interstate 66 Extension Inside the District of Columbia

The original plan for Interstate 66 was to go directly through Washington, D.C., connecting with an extensive citywide highway system. In the 1960s, plans called for several lanes to slice through existing neighborhoods. Engineers identified routes and began to integrate the new highway with other planned freeway systems. Supporters claimed that the extension would help to alleviate commuter traffic entering the city. With federal interstate dollars behind the extension, right-of-way planning began. The extension of Interstate 66 was part of a national movement to bring highways into city centers, and planners believed that modern transportation needs demanded direct access. As citizens realized the extent of the disruption, neighborhood opposition to the project grew. Protesters claimed that the freeway would divide neighborhoods and increase air pollution. Environmental lawsuits blocked federal approvals, slowing the extension’s progress.

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