Can America still build big things? It’s the central question of The Big Dig, a new podcast announced today from GBH News and PRX, examining American infrastructure through the lens of the most expensive highway project in the nation’s history.
The nine-part limited series premieres on September 27, the 40th anniversary of the project’s announcement by then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, just days before a congressional deadline on the highway funding that defined the Interstate Era.
The Big Dig is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Spotify, at the GBH News website and the GBH News YouTube Channel. Subsequent episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
“The megaproject known as the Big Dig embodies the deep cynicism afflicting American infrastructure today,” said Lead Producer and Host Ian Coss. “It’s often described as a ‘boondoggle,’ but beyond that narrative of scandal and outrage, the project has also delivered on many of its promises. Our podcast takes listeners on a decades-long journey from an idealistic vision to a political public relations disaster as we grapple with the lessons it offers for today’s ambitious undertakings.”