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Opinion We fixed I-95 in 12 days. Here are our lessons for U.S. infrastructure.

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Summary

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro explains how he and other leaders were able to rebuild a collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in just 12 days. He outlines four key takeaways from this project that can help other states and cities take advantage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including empowering strong leadership, speeding up the bureaucracy, encouraging creativity, and working together. He stresses that by working collaboratively and efficiently, big projects can be completed quickly and with success.

Q&As

What decisions were made quickly to rebuild and reopen I-95 in 12 days?
Decisions were made quickly and in a synchronized manner to demolish the site, develop a full plan to rebuild the roadway, and fast-track the permitting process.

What four key takeaways can help Americans capitalize on the federal investment in infrastructure?
Empower strong leadership, speed up the bureaucracy, encourage creativity, and work together.

How did Pennsylvania speed up the permitting process?
Pennsylvania fast-tracked the permitting process and waived some bureaucratic requirements with a disaster declaration. They also catalogued each of the 2,400 permits, certificates, and licenses they issue and set timelines for each of them.

How did Pennsylvania encourage creativity to rebuild I-95?
Pennsylvania launched a 24/7 live stream so the public could track their progress and feel ownership in the project. They also sourced a recycled glass product to rebuild the collapsed freeway and used a NASCAR turbo dryer to keep them moving along when rain threatened to slow them down.

How did local, state, and federal officials work together to rebuild I-95?
Local, state, and federal officials coordinated closely with each other, private contractors, and organized labor. They worked together to get the job done safely and with tremendous skill.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides a great example of how strong leadership, creativity, and collaboration can help reduce the bureaucratic process of completing infrastructure projects and get things done faster.

👎 This article fails to address the additional costs associated with these types of projects, which can be a major barrier to completing them efficiently.

AI Discussion

Me: It talks about how I-95 in Philadelphia was able to be rebuilt and reopened to traffic in just 12 days instead of the months that were initially estimated. The article outlines four key takeaways that can help Americans capitalize on the federal investment in infrastructure projects.

Friend: Wow, that's impressive! What are the four takeaways?

Me: The four takeaways are: 1) Empower strong leadership; 2) Speed up the bureaucracy; 3) Encourage creativity; and 4) Work together. These takeaways emphasize the importance of strong leadership and collaboration, as well as the need to streamline bureaucratic processes in order to get projects done quickly and efficiently. It also emphasizes the need to think creatively in order to find the best solutions for infrastructure projects.

Action items

Research and learn more about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how it can be used to fund infrastructure projects.
Reach out to local and state leaders to discuss how to speed up the permitting process and encourage creativity in infrastructure projects.
Connect with organized labor to discuss how to work together to complete infrastructure projects quickly and safely.

Technical terms

I-95: Interstate 95, a major highway in the United States.
Infrastructure: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A law passed in 2018 that provides billions of dollars for states and cities to spend on infrastructure projects.
Permitting Process: The process of obtaining permission from a government agency to build or operate a facility.
Backfill: Material used to fill a space or void.
NASCAR Turbo Dryer: A machine used to dry wet surfaces quickly.
Philadelphia Building Trades: A union of skilled workers in the Philadelphia area.