#urban-infrastructure

#urban-infrastructure

Most days, I pass through a cool, shaded colonnade my son describes as "the tunnel." A promise to swing by can sometimes convince him to leave the playground, and I plan my own routes around its dependable roof, avoiding the heat and rain that seem to get more extreme as the city turns tropical. There's a string of lights underneath, like the ones over pleasant outdoor markets, which makes it easier to rifle through my purse for my keys or phone in the evenings.

It's not just the noise and the smell of the site that angers him. Soon, a pumping station will begin operation at the site, spewing wastewater from surrounding rich neighborhoods directly into Vila da Barca, from where it will then be pumped to Belem's first large-scale wastewater treatment facility. Wastewater from Vila da Barca, however, will continue to flow directly into the estuary.

Earlier this week, DoorDash unveiled its own new autonomous robot called Dot. The company says it's part of its goal to have a "hybrid" model for deliveries going forward. It's the latest sign of a renewed interest in the industry of delivery robots after years of challenges. WIRED's Aarian Marshall joins us to discuss why this matters for all of us, whether we're ordering in or not.

The new plan has been criticized for moving cyclists into the path of fast-moving cars, increasing danger without adequately addressing existing safety issues.

A road marking at the junction of Mollison Drive and Stafford Road said 'look right' but points left, causing confusion for drivers and pedestrians.

New York's electric vehicle infrastructure is growing rapidly, now ranking second across the country with almost 18,000 public charging stations, following California's nearly 58,000.

The recent laws in Amsterdam to license e-bikes exist in a transportation context that positions bikes and cars on more equal footing, emphasizing safe mixed-use streets.

Record-breaking heat across Europe in summer 2025 led to temperatures exceeding 46°C, causing school closures and pressuring urban infrastructure, particularly in France, Italy, and Spain.

"The Silvertown tunnel campaigners argue that it is worsening traffic around South London, especially the A102, despite claims from TfL about reduced congestion at Blackwall."

The Boring Company's recent milestone in achieving continuous mining in a Zero-People-in-Tunnel (ZPIT) configuration is set to revolutionize urban infrastructure, and San Jose stands to gain significantly from this advancement.

Brown conducted another survey after the crossings were built, and found that not only were animals using the ramps, they were also getting killed less often on the roads - by something like 75%. And these secret crossings only cost $350,000.

Hundreds of cast-iron boxes, often unnoticed by passers-by, serve as vital water sampling stations in New York City maintained by the Department of Environmental Protection.

"Originally our goal was to make terrazzo of diamonds and rubies and meteorites and things like that, but now we feel a responsibility to the more irregular materials..."

This week, crews are scheduled to work on: striping, meter installation and painting curbs at the locations listed.

"Toilet provision is critical for many Londoners and visitors, and can even determine whether somebody travels on public transport at all."

Another City budget is on the negotiating table, and difficult decisions lie ahead as we brace for the chaos Trump could inflict on our city.