The Audit

The Audit

Share this post

The Audit
The Audit
Have We Lost the Ability to Build Infrastructure?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Have We Lost the Ability to Build Infrastructure?

Perhaps not completely

David Clinton's avatar
David Clinton
Oct 20, 2024
∙ Paid
12

Share this post

The Audit
The Audit
Have We Lost the Ability to Build Infrastructure?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
13
1
Share

The Empire State Building was, for its time, monumental. The New York landmark may not be such a big deal these days, but its construction history in often invoked as a sign that we’ve lost the capacity to do big stuff.

After all, the iconic skyscraper’s builders brought the project to completion $19 million under budget, 12 days ahead of schedule, and in just over a year.

At the height of the depression.

The Audit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

By contrast, California's High-Speed Rail project - designed to ultimately link San Diego with Sacramento - was authorized in 2008. Construction on Phase 1 didn't being until 2015. As of now, $11.2 billion has been spent without a single train having left a single station. The total budget was originally in the $33-40 billion range, although it’s now anticipated to run past $128 billion. And no one’s expecting project completion any time in the next decade.

Closer to home, we can compare the original 7.4 kilometer Yonge Line of Toronto’s subway system (fully-functional by 1954 after just five years’ work) with its grandson, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The Eglinton line was announced in 2007, work began in 2011 and, 13 years later, completion is still nowhere in sight. Since I live just a few blocks from what might one day become an LRT station, I’ll be sure to let you know if anything changes.

In the grand scheme of things, North America might not even have it so bad. Lately, everyone (and by “everyone” I mean everyone besides my wife, children, or even a single person I have ever met) has been buzzing about a 17,000-word article called “Foundations: Why Britain Has Stagnated”. I strongly encourage you to read the whole thing have ChatGPT summarize it for you.

The main takeaway from Foundations is that the UK’s excessive regulations, high energy and labour costs, bureaucratic delays, and outdated tax incentives led to an application process requiring 360,000 pages and nearly £300 million for the Lower Thames Crossing project before any work was even approved!

The rot that lies behind Britain’s paralysis has been building since the 1990’s, through both Conservative and Labour governments.

But things might not be so bad here at home.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Audit to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 DBC Technology Services Inc
Publisher Terms
Substack
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More