It’s time to start removing highways. (And why it matters in Minot)

Highways, the concrete rivers we’ve navigated for decades, are now under a critical eye. In cities across America, there’s a growing buzz about tearing them down—not as a wild notion but as a means to breathe life into urban spaces once split by sprawling lanes. Take Rochester, New York: their highway removal efforts reconnected communities, boosting local economies and addressing long-standing health and environmental woes. Yet, despite clear benefits, many places remain slow to follow. The road to transformation isn’t just about concrete—it’s about vision and courage.

Why did we feel a need to publish this in Minot? Because what communities outside of here are beginning to recognize are their past mistakes. If we hold on to their old models of development (which our our models of development currently) we’ll continue to make mistakes others are now learning to avoid. So, when places that are not from Minot learn from their mistakes, we share it so that we may not need to continue making them, too.

And if you don’t think this is happening here, you’re invited to learn about Minot’s proposed (and seeking funding) new south bypass.

Joe Harrington

Fast Company

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