Boondoggles
Basics
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America’s Greatest Highway Boondoggles
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and highway expansion between Oregon and Washington was already a boondoggle. Then the costs ballooned to $17.7 billion.
January 8, 2026
Don’t Believe the Hype: NJ Turnpike Widening Still Happening
Gov. Murphy's late revision will just move the problem around, advocates say.
December 24, 2025
Oregon Highway Expansion Facing Second Lawsuit for ‘Cumulative Impacts’
The Beaver State Department of Transportation doubly violated federal law, a new lawsuit charges.
August 16, 2024
Boondoggle: Oregon Highway Widening Gets ‘Reconnecting Communities’ Cash
The US Department of Transportation just awarded $450 million to the $1.9-billion Rose Quarter 1-5 project, which opponents have long called one of America’s most-notorious highway boondoggles.
April 8, 2024
Freeway Fighters: ‘Stop the Highway-Expansion Madness,’ New Coalition Demands
"Endless highway expansions are pulling our country into an environmental, budgetary, and public health crisis," the letter states.
February 6, 2024
Highway Boondoggles Part V: Duluth’s ‘Can of Worms’
It’s sometimes said that Minnesota has two seasons: winter and road construction. In Duluth, an ongoing, multiyear highway project has sucked up millions of taxpayer dollars on a road that many residents believe shouldn’t even be there in the first place.
September 19, 2022
Mile-High City Halts Two Highway Expansions — And Gives the Money to Transit Instead
Colorado will cancel two planned highway expansions, citing a new climate rule that advocates say should be a model for communities across America.
September 15, 2022
Highway Boondoggles, Part II: Induced Demand Across the Ohio River
The Brent Spence Bridge is a vital link between Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati. The plan to replace it is though, is a boondoggle. Here's why.
September 14, 2022
Hochul Calls for ‘Alternatives’ to LaGuardia AirTrain — Possibly Dooming Cuomo’s Boondoggle
"I have asked the Port Authority to thoroughly examine alternative mass transit solutions for reducing car traffic and increasing connectivity to LaGuardia Airport," Hochul said about the 1.5-mile, elevated people mover.
October 4, 2021
Not So FAST: Senate Transport Bill Causes Pileup for White House Climate Goals
A Senate proposal to shovel hundreds of billions of dollars into new freeways will wipe out the Biden administration’s goal of halving carbon emissions by 2030.
May 27, 2021
