Global transportation networks deteriorate from "summary" of The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
As time passes without humans to maintain them, the transportation networks that crisscross the globe gradually begin to deteriorate. The asphalt of roads starts to crack and buckle under the relentless assault of plant roots seeking moisture. Without regular maintenance, potholes form and expand, making travel difficult and dangerous. Bridges, once marvels of engineering, succumb to the forces of nature as rust eats away at their metal supports. Eventually, they give way under their own weight, collapsing into the rivers and valleys they once spanned. Railway tracks, once bustling with trains carrying goods and people, become overgrown with grass and weeds. The wooden ties rot away, and the steel rails warp and twist, rendering them unusable. The once sleek and efficient trains sit idle in their rusting depots, slowly being reclaimed by nature. Airports, once bustling hubs of activity, become ghostly reminders of a bygone era. Runways crack and crumble, and weeds push through the tarmac, reclaiming the land for themselves. The vast network of shipping lanes that crisscross the oceans also falls into disrepair. Without regular dredging, ports become choked with silt and debris, making it impossible for ships to dock. The massive container ships that once carried goods from one side of the world to the other now sit abandoned in harbors, slowly rusting away. Without humans to guide them, these once vital arteries of global trade become stagnant and lifeless. As the transportation networks deteriorate, the world begins to shrink. Without the ability to travel long distances quickly and efficiently, communities become isolated and self-sufficient. The global economy, once dependent on the free flow of goods and people, grinds to a halt. The once interconnected world becomes fragmented and fractured, with each region left to fend for itself. The concept of a world without us becomes a reality, as the physical manifestations of our presence slowly crumble and fade away.
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