Politicians and their benefactors taking kickbacks, too. Look how many years and billions it took for that ridiculous “Big Dig” project in Boston. So much corruption that drives prices and completion time through the roof.
I know that after all the bonds are paid off, the total cost for the Big Dig will be $22 billion. I think they should have done that one via a partially-toll-funded public-private partnership, mostly w/companies outside of Massachusetts to avoid the shoddy workmanship. If everybody in the Boston metro wants to clog up and congregate in downtown at once, why not make sure they pay directly for the privilege?
The old Distressway (I-93) was a classic example of “free” urban infrastructure’s version of the Tragedy of the Commons.