From the Wall Street Journal

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls.

In Michigan, at least 38 of the 83 counties have converted some asphalt roads to gravel in recent years. Last year, South Dakota turned at least 100 miles of asphalt road surfaces to gravel. Counties in Alabama and Pennsylvania have begun downgrading asphalt roads to cheaper chip-and-seal road, also known as "poor man's pavement." Some counties in Ohio are simply letting roads erode to gravel.

I got this story via Atrios, whose comment was:

Moving forward into the 21st century.

Patrick's comment was:

Next they'll tear down the aqueducts.

These stories are worth finding. They help me write science fiction. Imagine a future America without the current highway system.

What isn't worth much is the daily reports about power struggles in Washington.