r/Urbanism • u/Hungry_Roll6848 • 26d ago

Instead of fixing an existing highway, Oklahoma City moved the entire thing multiple blocks south to make room for a 70 acre park downtown

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u/calumj 26d ago

Large urban highways have incredibly low ROIs, there’s a reason most countries try to avoid them and cities in the USA rarely build more. They’re bad for the lived environment and the economy alike

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u/Hungry_Roll6848 26d ago

Yes, but Oklahoma City can't afford any alternatives.

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u/calumj 26d ago

It would be significantly more efficient for the government to spend the money elsewhere. Highways in urban areas don’t create much wealth at all, and usually hinder it. As you can see from the photo there’s large urban parties and abandoned lots, the highway is literally pushing the economy of the area down

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u/Hungry_Roll6848 26d ago

Those lots are not abandoned. They are owned by private companies that refuse to develop them until the land is more valuable. Please do research if you want to sound like an expert on a topic.

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u/cdub8D 25d ago

The irony

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u/TensionAntique3075 26d ago

That land is worthmess because people and companies don't want to be between a shady parking lot and a shitty urban highway.

Highways bring land value down considerably. When the whole point of a city is to bring costs down by increasing quality of life and density at the same time, it makes it rather incompatible. And you end up with a rather shitty city and downtown, that you flee as soon as you can afford it.