July 18, 2011 – By now you have certainly heard about "Carmageddon" – the closure of a 10-mile segment of frighteningly busy Interstate 405 in Los Angeles ("The 405" for you locals). The highway was closed for a 53-hour period over the weekend due to the removal of a bridge. There had been dire predictions of traffic gridlock for L.A., which frankly failed to materialize.
But the thing I find interesting is that even the suggestion that a major highway was about to be incapacitated turned into a major media event. Lacking a new highway bill, gridlock on many of the nation's deteriorating highways is certain to become a reality in cities across the U.S. Consider this episode in a mere dress rehearsal for the coming real thing.
Mark S. Kuhar, editor of Rock Products, has covered the aggregates and construction-materials industries for more than 20 years as a business journalist, associate publisher, blogger and digital-media specialist. He is a former winner of the Construction Writers Association’s Robert F. Boger Award for Editorials. Check back often for his posts, opinions and insights on industry developments, and commentary on topics of interest as he travels around the country. He can be reached at 330-722-4081, or [email protected].
July 18, 2011 – By now you have certainly heard about "Carmageddon" – the closure of a 10-mile segment of frighteningly busy Interstate 405 in Los Angeles ("The 405" for you locals). The highway was closed for a 53-hour period over the weekend due to the removal of a bridge. There had been dire predictions of traffic gridlock for L.A., which frankly failed to materialize.
But the thing I find interesting is that even the suggestion that a major highway was about to be incapacitated turned into a major media event. Lacking a new highway bill, gridlock on many of the nation's deteriorating highways is certain to become a reality in cities across the U.S. Consider this episode in a mere dress rehearsal for the coming real thing.
