Skip to main content
University of Wisconsin–Madison
State smart transportation initiative logo
State Smart Transportation Initiative
  • Innovative DOT Expand Collapse
    • Innovative DOT
    • Section 1: Planning
    • Section 2: Delivery
    • Section 3: Operations
    • Section 4: Culture
  • Work with Us Expand Collapse
    • State DOTs
    • Join Our Team
  • Resources Expand Collapse
    • Innovative DOT Handbook (2015)
    • Modernizing Mitigation
    • Measuring Accessibility
    • Webinars and Events
    • Reports
  • Blog
  • About Expand Collapse
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Our Impact
  • Sign Up for Updates

Highway widenings are losing steam in some states

Posted on May 31, 2022
Freeway construction

By Michael Brenneis

A small but growing number of state DOTs are putting planned highway expansion projects on hold as they work to stretch their available funds and assess how to meet ambitious environmental goals. Certain environmental organizations, cities, and equity-focused advocates interested in rebuilding communities damaged by urban freeways are among those pressuring DOTs to change their long-standing practices.

Let’s look at some examples:

Colorado DOT is abandoning plans to widen I-25 through Denver citing a lack of funds for the project. Advocates hope CDOT will focus instead on increasing transit, bicycling, and walking investment in accordance with new operating rules that require agency-funded projects to reduce vehicle miles traveled, or mitigate climate impacts.

Ohio DOT scrapped plans to convert Highway 23—connecting Waldo, OH, to I-270 north of Columbus—from a busy state highway with multiple signalized intersections to a limited access freeway, citing the cost and public concerns regarding environmental damage and loss of farmland. The agency will instead focus on much smaller projects, such as turn lanes and intersection modifications, to alleviate congestion along the corridor.

In May Caltrans and the Metro Board abandoned the idea of widening I-710 out of concern that the project “would not meet desired outcomes for air quality, equity, mobility and sustainability.” As Streetsblog reported, this represents an “unprecedented” move in the face of roughly $60 million invested in the process of widening an 18-mile stretch of the important freight corridor through populated areas of Los Angeles County, south of Los Angeles.

California legislators are also attempting to limit freeway expansion in or near communities that are defined as low-income and burdened by housing costs, or unduly exposed to particulates, according to the California Healthy Places Index.

Still, there is strong support coming from labor organizations for continued highway expansion in California, as reported in the Los Angeles Times. These groups would like to see other job opportunities laid out before work on freeway expansion slows. Proponents of highway expansion also express concerns that halting these projects could hurt the state’s economic growth and its ability to move freight.

CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin, however, sees the influx of money from the IIJA and increased gas taxes as an opportunity to make wise transportation investments that support the state’s goal of reducing emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2031, reports the LA Times. The additional hope is that green jobs grow as more conventional highway projects slow.

Managed lanes and road pricing are other solutions being explored by state DOTs such as Virginia and Washington to fulfill their missions without expanding highways.

Photo credit: Jeramey Jannene on flickr, unmodified. License.

Posted in DOTs, Economic Impact, Organizational ReformTagged equity, freight, highways, public engagement, reform

Post navigation

Previous post: A new playbook is emerging for managing local travel demand
Next post: Tight corners save lives

Stay Up To Date

Every two weeks, our newsletter highlights critical research and best practices that impact state and local transportation, pulling from a wide range of academic and industry sources.

Sign Up →

Site footer content

University logo that links to main university website Part of the Universities of Wisconsin

Quick Links

  • About
  • Webinars and Events
  • Reports

Contact Us

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    1180 Observatory Drive
    Madison, WI 53706
  • Email: info@ssti.us
  • Phone: 608.263.3889
    • x twitter
    • facebook
    • linkedin

Website feedback, questions or accessibility issues: admin@ssti.us | Learn more about accessibility at UW–Madison.

This site was built using the UW Theme | Privacy Notice | © 2025 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.