How to build a highway in the age of climate change

A highway project in the San Francisco Bay Area is drawing attention to the urgent need for climate resilience in infrastructure planning. As sea levels continue to rise, the $1.1 billion project to widen and upgrade a 10-mile stretch of highway is being designed with flooding in mind. This is a critical consideration, as many of the world's highways are located in low-lying coastal areas and are at risk of being inundated by rising waters.

The project highlights the challenges of building and upgrading infrastructure in a world where climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a present reality. The Federal Highway Administration has acknowledged that climate change is a major concern for the nation's transportation infrastructure, with sea level rise, more frequent flooding, and extreme weather events posing significant risks. As a result, engineers and planners are being forced to rethink traditional design approaches and incorporate climate resilience into their work.

What's next to watch is how this project serves as a model for other infrastructure projects around the world. Will the approaches taken in the Bay Area, such as elevating roadways and installing flood-proof barriers, prove effective in withstanding the impacts of climate change? And will policymakers and industry leaders prioritize climate resilience in future infrastructure investments, or will short-term costs and expediency take precedence? The answers will have significant implications for the long-term sustainability of our transportation systems and the communities they serve.

Originally reported by grist.org. ClimateNews adds analysis for climate & energy readers.