There is exactly one other American city crazy enough to attempt anything like what Boston did with The Big Dig. That city is Seattle, and they are not done tearing down highways. Guests: Joshua McNichols, Greg Nickels, Cayce James, José Manuel VasquezRecorded live with KUOW at the Seattle Public Library.Archival audio courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives

There is exactly one other American city crazy enough to attempt anything like what Boston did with The Big Dig. That city is Seattle, and they are not done tearing down highways. Guests: Joshua McNichols, Greg Nickels, Cayce James, José Manuel Vasquez Recorded live with KUOW at the Seattle Public Library. Archival audio courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives

There is exactly one other American city crazy enough to attempt anything like what Boston did with The Big Dig. That city is Seattle, and they are not done tearing down highways.&nbsp;Guests: Joshua McNichols, Greg Nickels, Cayce James, José Manuel VasquezRecorded live with KUOW at the Seattle Public Library.Archival audio courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives

Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA

There is a cynicism that hangs over the topic of American infrastructure – whether it’s high-speed rail or off-shore wind – it feels like this country can’t build big things anymore. No one project embodies that cynicism quite like what Bostonians call ‘The Big Dig.’ Infamous for its ever-increasing price tag, this massive highway tunneling effort was once ridiculed as the Big Mess, the Big Hole, the Big Pig, the Big Lie. But now, decades later the story looks more complicated. So how did the narrative around this project go so horribly wrong? And what lessons can it offer for the ambitious projects of today? The nine episode series is produced by GBH News in partnership with PRX.

History

There is a cynicism that hangs over the topic of American infrastructure – whether it’s high-speed rail or off-shore wind – it feels like this country can’t build big things anymore. No one project embodies that cynicism quite like what Bostonians call ‘The Big Dig.’ Infamous for its ever-increasing price tag, this massive highway tunneling effort was once ridiculed as the Big Mess, the Big Hole, the Big Pig, the Big Lie. But now, decades later the story looks more complicated. So how did the narrative around this project go so horribly wrong? And what lessons can it offer for the ambitious projects of today? The nine episode series is produced by GBH News in partnership with PRX.

Share Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA

Sign up to save your podcasts

Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA

Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA

More shows like The Big Dig

This American Life

Radiolab

Fresh Air

Planet Money

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

99% Invisible

Crimetown

The Daily

You're Wrong About

Throughline

Articles of Interest

Campus Files: Scandals, Secrets & Crimes at American Universities

Terrestrials

The Big Dig

This Guy Sucked