Road to Nowhere
2024
Installation at Nocturne: Art at Night 2024
repurposed vinyl banners, air blower
photos by Nadim Kasserwani & Tara Nicholson
Made possible with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts
Road to Nowhere features an inflatable representation of the former Cogswell Interchange overpass, serving as a memorial to the social issues associated with its construction. This installation prompts reflection on the existing challenges confronting our communities and resistance to unsustainable development.
The redevelopment of downtown Halifax in the 1960s and 1970s resulted in the demolition of a significant portion of low-income tenement housing and commercial properties in the "Cogswell Interchange" area.
The interchange, built in 1969, was originally intended to be the first phase of a larger plan to construct an elevated freeway running through downtown Halifax and beyond. However, due to public outcry, construction came to a halt by 1970, leading to the abandonment of the highway plans. The interchange stood as a prominent symbol of this era of urban planning—a highway onramp with no accompanying highway.
The presence of the interchange created a physical divide between the city's north end and downtown core, with its cumbersome concrete roads and ramps hindering pedestrian accessibility. Occupying valuable real estate, the interchange became outdated and costly to maintain. Finally, in 2024, the interchange was demolished, and the redevelopment effort is nearing completion.
The Road to Nowhere installation references the Cogswell Interchange bridge. Constructed from repurposed vinyl banners and tarps once used at construction sites in downtown Halifax, the inflatable overpass is designed to reflect the impact of the Interchange and associated developments on the lives and neighbourhoods of central Halifax. The overpass is inflated at one end but tied in a knot at the centre, symbolizing the barriers and challenges faced by the community. The overpass never fully inflates symbolizing the neglect of the interchange and the project's abandonment in 1970.
As we reflect on this chapter of history, the echoes of the 1960s and 1970s modernization drive resound today, particularly in concerns related to affordable housing and the necessary city infrastructure. This is not solely a local issue but a nationwide challenge. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on the challenges faced by the community due to the abandoned plans for an elevated freeway and the subsequent endeavours of Halifax residents to promote sustainable, inclusive, and fair development.
The redevelopment of downtown Halifax in the 1960s and 1970s resulted in the demolition of a significant portion of low-income tenement housing and commercial properties in the "Cogswell Interchange" area.
The interchange, built in 1969, was originally intended to be the first phase of a larger plan to construct an elevated freeway running through downtown Halifax and beyond. However, due to public outcry, construction came to a halt by 1970, leading to the abandonment of the highway plans. The interchange stood as a prominent symbol of this era of urban planning—a highway onramp with no accompanying highway.
The presence of the interchange created a physical divide between the city's north end and downtown core, with its cumbersome concrete roads and ramps hindering pedestrian accessibility. Occupying valuable real estate, the interchange became outdated and costly to maintain. Finally, in 2024, the interchange was demolished, and the redevelopment effort is nearing completion.
The Road to Nowhere installation references the Cogswell Interchange bridge. Constructed from repurposed vinyl banners and tarps once used at construction sites in downtown Halifax, the inflatable overpass is designed to reflect the impact of the Interchange and associated developments on the lives and neighbourhoods of central Halifax. The overpass is inflated at one end but tied in a knot at the centre, symbolizing the barriers and challenges faced by the community. The overpass never fully inflates symbolizing the neglect of the interchange and the project's abandonment in 1970.
As we reflect on this chapter of history, the echoes of the 1960s and 1970s modernization drive resound today, particularly in concerns related to affordable housing and the necessary city infrastructure. This is not solely a local issue but a nationwide challenge. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on the challenges faced by the community due to the abandoned plans for an elevated freeway and the subsequent endeavours of Halifax residents to promote sustainable, inclusive, and fair development.