Boston is the site of the world’s largest highway construction project. At a cost of $1.7 billion per mile, the "Big Dig" promises the revitalization of the Northeast economy. However, the broader impact on public health has not been widely discussed. The Big Dig will influence the future of public health in the "global economy" no less than the construction of the pyramids changed the ancient world. For the people of Boston the effects are immediate. Construction workers experiencing economic benefits are also exposed to the hazards of the job. Abutting neighborhoods live with the disruption while awaiting the economic boom that will make the area unaffordable to many current residents. Regionally, indicators of health, such as affordable housing, public transportation, quality education and access to health care, have declined during the project. Nationally, the Big Dig is a leading example of infrastructure "megaprojects" being constructed or proposed across the U.S. Proponents of larger and more expensive highways, stadiums, airports, convention centers and prisons contend that public investment will stimulate economic growth that will trickle down into local economies. But the benefits have largely accrued to the white, suburban, high-income populations that have supported more construction. Globally, the Big Dig has a key role in the globalization of the construction industry. Exported engineering technology, tested and proven in Boston, builds the megacities of Asia and developing areas of the Southern Hemisphere. This presentation will examine the regional, national and global implications of infrastructure development on public health.
Learning Objectives: na
Keywords: Occupational Safety,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.