Highway Teardown Tour | 10. Providence, RI
Summary
Host Ian Koss visits Providence to discuss the I-Way project with former Big Dig director Mike Lewis, highlighting its success as a smaller, strategic highway reconfiguration. The episode contrasts this with the Washington Bridge collapse, featuring insights from former US Attorney Zach Cunha on RIDOT’s oversight failures. Together, they explore how infrastructure projects can either build community trust or fuel public cynicism.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The Big Dig vs. Providence's I-Way
Guest introductions and the Rhode Island accent
Mike Lewis's transition from Boston to Rhode Island
The I-Way project: Moving the bridge and costs
Comparing I-Way success to Big Dig challenges
The Washington Bridge collapse and immediate impact
Oversight failures and lack of internal engineering
Causes of collapse and rebuilding public trust
Washington Bridge Blues playlist and closing remarks
Listen ad-free on Castria