Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: The Freeway That Never Was

This week we’re talking with Brendan Wittstruck about St. Louis's never built freeway, I-755, which he recently wrote about at Streetsblog member NextSTL.

podcast icon logo
Meal delivery is one service of Project Roomkey. Photo: LAHSA

Brendan discusses the history of the project and how drawing lines on maps can be seductive to planners, who always have to be careful about trying to “fix” cities. He also talks about the racial politics of freeway construction in St. Louis, and how that legacy still shapes the city today. Finally, we chat about what the I-755 story means for freeway teardown movements today in terms of data collection and why this freeway never saw the light of day.

Join us and hear about the teardown that never had to happen, and the freeway that was never built.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Wednesday’s Headlines

ICE, rain, failing streets, climate costs, car-free life, transit, new CA laws, Mamdani, car-nage, and more

December 31, 2025

Some Stories That Shaped L.A. in 2025

Some stories that shaped 2025: ICE terror, climate disruption, new light rail, bus lane enforcement, bikeways, open streets and more

December 30, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

"Large Asphalt Repair", potholes, WeHo, LB, speeding, Waymo, Burbank, car costs, car-nage, and more

December 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines

Rain, ICE, bus rider killed, Waymo vs. Santa Monica, Westwood VA, South L.A., Glendale, Malibu, Pershing Square, car-nage, and more

December 26, 2025
See all posts