Deconstructing Elevated Expressways: An Evaluation of the Proposal to Remove the Interstate 10 Claiborne Avenue Expressway in New Orleans, Louisiana

With the passage of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, the interstate system included an elevated segment of Interstate 10 constructed over Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. The I-10 Claiborne Expressway provided access to downtown by destroying a tree-lined boulevard and contributing to the decline of an African American neighborhood. In 2005, after hurricane Katrina, several community-based plans proposed that the elevated I-10 Claiborne Expressway be removed. This thesis compares the removal proposals to the decision making processes of five case cities that have removed expressways. Necessary conditions were applied to all expressway removal cases. Currently, the I-10 Claiborne Expressway decision making process lacks defined structural integrity and safety concerns, a reduction in the value of freeways by power brokers, documented support of the business community and “selling” of idea by a public agency. These conditions were necessary to the decision to remove expressways in all case cities.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.U.R.P.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Planning and Urban Studies

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Henry, Kim Tucker

Contributors dc:contributor

• Haughey, Patrick M.
• Brooks, Jane
• Renne, John

• Freeway removal
• elevated freeway demolition
• Interstate 10
• Claiborne Avenue
• New Orleans
• deconstructing elevated highways

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1016

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1997