Texas - The China of Road Construction

[Zmapper]

Both China and Texas are constructing vast highway networks to accommodate an influx of urban residents from poorer rural areas; China's population coming from the interior west and Texas from the south. Both locations are some of the only places on earth building highways in anticipation of demand, instead of in reaction to demand. In addition to the wide ROW saved for 6 or more interstate-quality lanes, Texas also likes to build two-lane one-way frontage roads, even in sparsely developed areas that currently lack traffic demand. While China doesn't construct Texas-style frontage roads along their new highway network, China is constructing a close-knit grid of highways in rural areas, as well as widening many urban arterial streets to accommodate more demand.

Texas: http://goo.gl/maps/5Kkpn
http://goo.gl/maps/zByk7

China: http://goo.gl/maps/akgUI
http://goo.gl/maps/jST7n

[NE2]

They also both have explosions at fertilizer plants. Oh wait.

[architect77]

I read an article stating that Texas loves to build more and more highways whiles ignoring and underfunding maintenance on the many roads it already has. At some point, just maintaining existing highways becomes overwhelming financially and with regards to resources/road crews.

I always remember reading about Texas's mega north-south highway project that was almost 1/4 mile in some spots. In that still in the works?

[txstateends]

I always remember reading about Texas's mega north-south highway project that was almost 1/4 mile in some spots. In that still in the works?

Fortunately, no.  That's one of Governor Goodhair's brilliant ideas that actually got overruled.  The map was drawn as more than just 1 north-south route, but basically he wanted a companion/alternate to I-35.  It was just a **bit** ambitious, especially when he underestimated costs beyond regular highway expenditures, as well as how the public would react.  The all-in-one strategy (road, rail, utilities, pipelines) was too much also, especially since most infrastructure is already in place elsewhere in the state, and not arranged like a Trans-Texas corridor would have (nor able to be moved easily or at all) required.  Another thing that wasn't brought up during the media's coverage of the proposal, was that it was a potential terrorist magnet.  Throwing all the eggs in the same basket like that, then crippling or damaging it later with an attack, could have had a major economic setback for the area involved (or even the whole state).  Also, the corridors wouldn't have been compatible at state lines with any type of infrastructure currently existing in any of the neighboring states.

The tollroad happiness that Goodhair feels hasn't gone away completely, but I think the Trans-Texas thing is safely in the far reaches of the rear-view mirror.

[J N Winkler]

The tollroad happiness that Goodhair feels hasn't gone away completely, but I think the Trans-Texas thing is safely in the far reaches of the rear-view mirror.

Wasn't it partly a Trojan horse for an agenda of widespread tolling?

[txstateends]

The tollroad happiness that Goodhair feels hasn't gone away completely, but I think the Trans-Texas thing is safely in the far reaches of the rear-view mirror.

Wasn't it partly a Trojan horse for an agenda of widespread tolling?

Pretty much, yes.  Which has led to even local 'agendas' like the NTTA's regular jacking up of toll rates at gantries and ramps since making all toll points in their system all-electronic (some spots are already more.than double what the rates were before the all-electronic era).

[Joe The Dragon]

Both China and Texas are constructing vast highway networks to accommodate an influx of urban residents from poorer rural areas; China's population coming from the interior west and Texas from the south. Both locations are some of the only places on earth building highways in anticipation of demand, instead of in reaction to demand. In addition to the wide ROW saved for 6 or more interstate-quality lanes, Texas also likes to build two-lane one-way frontage roads, even in sparsely developed areas that currently lack traffic demand. While China doesn't construct Texas-style frontage roads along their new highway network, China is constructing a close-knit grid of highways in rural areas, as well as widening many urban arterial streets to accommodate more demand.

Texas: http://goo.gl/maps/5Kkpn
http://goo.gl/maps/zByk7

China: http://goo.gl/maps/akgUI
http://goo.gl/maps/jST7n

China seems to have the ticket based toll roads do they have any breezewood like setups?