How Not to Build Infrastructure Projects

Amtrak engineers regularly venture deep under the Hudson River to eyeball the ancient rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey. Shutting down the Superstorm Sandy–scarred, 116-year-old structure can’t be completely ruled out before its replacement is online—and it’s not out of the question that running trains could be too risky one day. Should that happen, some 200,000 people who pass through the tunnel each day will have to find some other way in, out, or around New York City, a titanic enough challenge on an ordinary day.