Cristina Ye Wang, c.ye@alumnos.upm.es

The Interstate Highway System is the backbone of the transportation infrastructure in the United States. It completely transformed mobility and urban development across the country. However, much of its layout was designed at the expense of vulnerable communities, particularly Black and Latino neighborhoods were partially or entirely demolished to make way for the new network.

The origins of the system date back to 1956, when the construction of 41,000 miles of highways was approved through the Federal-Aid Highway Act [8]. Designing these roads often required cutting through already consolidated communities, and policymakers chose to avoid affluent white neighborhoods, displacing instead racialized communities. In cities such as Nashville, Detroit, St. Louis and Los Angeles, predominantly Black and Latino areas were seen as ideal locations for highway construction, largely because land values were lower and residents had less political power to resist.

Figure 1. Interstate Highway System of the United States (Federal Highway Administration, 2023).

Highway construction was accompanied by urban renewal policies aimed at demolishing homes and businesses considered deficient in order to replace them with new developments. Once again, Black and Latino neighborhoods became the primary targets, viewed by planners as marginal areas that needed to be eliminated.

The social consequences were significant. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, between 1957 and 1977 highway construction displaced more than one million people [5]. Beyond thousands of families losing their homes, highways became physical barriers that limited access to public transportation, employment centers and green spaces. This fragmentation perpetuated social exclusion and reduced economic opportunities for the racialized communities that remained. At the same time, increased car traffic worsened environmental degradation and pollution in these neighborhoods, negatively affecting residents’ health and quality of life.

Meanwhile, the suburbs experienced rapid expansion, supported in part by the new connections provided by the Interstate Highway System. These predominantly white residential areas benefited from public and private investment, while many urban centers became fragmented and economically distressed.

The consequences of these decisions remain visible in American society today. Many Black and Latino neighborhoods have fewer green spaces, reduced access to services and higher exposure to pollution. These areas are also frequently chosen for industrial facilities, further increasing environmental risks and lowering life expectancy compared with suburban areas [4].

In recent years, the impact of the Interstate Highway System has become a subject of debate. Several American cities have begun to demolish, redesign or cover sections of urban highways. One of the most emblematic examples is the Inner Loop in Rochester. Built between 1952 and 1965, this highway isolated the city center and reinforced social divisions between the area inside the loop and the outer neighborhoods. The population inside the loop was predominantly racialized, while more affluent suburbs grew outside. As a result, housing values outside became up to ten times higher than those inside [9].

In 2014, one mile of the Inner Loop was replaced with a boulevard featuring wide sidewalks and bike lanes [9]. After the project, the number of people walking or cycling within the neighborhood increased by 50% and 60%, respectively [4]. Commercial and residential developments followed, bringing significant positive externalities and revitalizing the area. The initiative was so successful that a new investment of $100 million has been announced to continue transforming the rest of the Inner Loop [7].

Figure 2. Rochester city center before and after covering the Inner Loop (based on Google Maps, 2025).

Rochester was one of the pioneer cities, and many others across the United States have since followed this trend, acknowledging the social damage caused by these highways. The Congress for the New Urbanism has identified more than 50 similar projects that are underway or planned nationwide [2]. These efforts aim to restore divided neighborhoods and reconnect areas that were marginalized for decades.

The history of the American Interstate Highway System demonstrates that infrastructure decisions have long-lasting effects on the functioning and structure of cities. Examining this historical process helps clarify how road networks have shaped urban space and contributed to territorial inequalities. This understanding is essential for guiding future public policies toward sustainable models that better respond to the needs of contemporary and future society.

References:

[1] Archer, D. N. (2021). Transportation Policy and the Underdevelopment of Black Communities. Available in: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3797364 [Consulted 04-12-2025].

[2] Congress for the New Urbanism (2025). Freeways Without Futures. Available in: https://www.cnu.org/our-projects/highways-boulevards/freeways-without-futures [Consulted 06-12-2025].

[3] Dillon, L., Poston, B. (2021). La historia racista detrás del auge de las autopistas interestatales en Estados Unidos. Available in: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-11/la-historia-racista-detras-del-auge-de-las-autopistas-interestatales-en-estados-unidos [Consulted 05-12-2025].

[4] Fitzgerald, J., Agyeman, J. (2021). Removing urban highways can improve neighborhoods blighted by decades of racist policies. Available in: https://theconversation.com/removing-urban-highways-can-improve-neighborhoods-blighted-by-decades-of-racist-policies-166220 [Consulted 05-12-2025].

[5] Gamboa, S., McCausland, P., Lederman, J., Popken, B. (2021). Bulldozed and bisected: Highway construction built a legacy of inequality. Available in: https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/america-highways-inequality/ [Consulted 04-12-2025].

[6] King, N. (2021). A Brief History Of How Racism Shaped Interstate Highways. Available in: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/07/984784455/a-brief-history-of-how-racism-shaped-interstate-highways [Consulted 05-12-2025].

[7] Senado de los Estados Unidos (2025). Schumer, Gillibrand, Morelle Announce Whopping $100 Million for Rochester’s Inner Loop Project. Available in: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-morelle-announce-whopping-100-million-for-rochesters-inner-loop-project-delivering-final_needed-to-greenlight-construction-to-reconnect-and-revitalize-downtown [Consulted 06-12-2025].

[8] United States Senate (1956). Congress Approves the Federal-Aid Highway Act. Available in: https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Federal_Highway_Act.htm [Consulted 03-12-2025].

[9] Urbi, J. (2022). Why America Is Tearing Down Its Highways. Available in: https://www.theb1m.com/video/america-interstate-highway-system-teardowns [Consulted 03-12-2025].