Delaware County District Library

The road taken, the history and future of America's infrastructure, Henry Petroski

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages [283]-304) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The road taken

bibliography

922799424

Henry Petroski

the history and future of America's infrastructure

"A compelling work of history, The Road Taken is also an urgent clarion call aimed at American citizens, politicians, and anyone with a vested interest in our economic well-being. The road we take in the next decade toward rebuilding our aging infrastructure will in large part determine our future national prosperity."--, Amazon.com

1. The road taken : givens, choices, forks, sighs -- 2. The road not taken : words, reports, and grades -- 3. Roads : dirt, stone, wood, concrete, asphalt -- 4. Diverged : transcontinental journeys and interstate dreams -- 5. Yellow : center lines, stop signs, traffic lights -- 6. Could not travel : earthquakes, envy, and embarrassments -- 7. In the undergrowth : elevateds, subways, and engineers -- 8. Just as fair : location, location, location-- and financing -- 9. Perhaps the better claim : iconic, signature, and stunning spans -- 10. Because it was : guardrails, medians, and Jersey barriers -- 11. Grassy and wanted wear : streets, lawns, speed bumps, potholes -- 12. The passing there : sidewalks, curbs, gutters, horses, pavements -- 13. Had worn them really : quality, shoddiness, and survivor bias -- 14. About the same : good enough bridges and bad enough tools -- 15. Lay in leaves : triage, budgets, and choice, again -- 16. Trodden black : corruption, graft, waste, fraud, abuse -- 17. For another day : trust funds, fuel taxes, and politics -- 18. How way leads on to way : economics, wrong turns, and political choices -- 19. Ever come back : pedestrians, preservationists, parks -- 20. Telling this with a sigh : public-private partnerships : plusses and minuses -- 21. Ages and ages hence : smart cars and pothole-free roads