Should we put roads underground? 我们应该把道路建在地下吗？

　　Should we put roads underground? 我们应该把道路建在地下吗？

　　许多城市都设有地下列车系统，这让日常出行变得更高效、更环保。如今，有人在探讨应不应该把道路也挪到地下，从而为咖啡馆、公园等更美观的场所腾出地上空间。本文围绕改在地下修建道路这一提议现实与否展开讨论。

　　词汇：traffic 交通

　　Can you imagine living in a city without roads on the surface? We've already put trains underground successfully, but the idea of building roads underground is now inspiring urban planners and engineers. Bradley Garrett, author of 'Subterranean¹ London', says that there's something magical about things happening out of sight, that it "gives the illusion of seamlessness". So, how might underground roads reshape our cities and redefine the daily commute²?

　　"If you want to revitalise the city centre, you pedestrianise the roads," says Tom Ireland, the director of tunnelling at engineering company Aurecon. Moving roads below the surface can free up space for parks, pavement cafes, and other public amenities³, improving the urban environment and mental health of the population. Not only that, it could reduce traffic congestion⁴ above ground, and who doesn't want to be freed from noise pollution and the sight of gridlocked traffic?

　　Underground roads could also make self-driving cars more popular, which are often more energy-efficient, and less prone⁵ to collisions. This, in a world trying to reduce its fuel consumption, is appealing. But if driverless cars end up becoming more attractive than public transport, it could actually make traffic worse, because cars take up more space than trains and buses.

　　That's not the only drawback that may come with a motorised world beneath our feet. The construction and maintenance of underground infrastructure⁶ are both hazardous⁷ and energy-intensive processes. On top of that, most people don't like the feeling of confinement⁸ you get when you're travelling through underground tunnels, which may affect public perception.

　　Dreams of roadless, car-free cities bring both excitement and scepticism. We may fantasise about cityscapes made for pedestrians⁹, but perhaps getting more people to use public transport rather than private vehicles would be more worth our time and resources.

　　词汇表

　　urban planner 城市规划师

　　the illusion of seamlessness 完美连贯的假象，无缝的错觉commute 上下班往返，通勤

　　pedestrianise 设立步行街

　　free up space 腾出空间

　　public amenities 公共设施

　　congestion 拥堵，堵塞

　　noise pollution 噪声污染

　　gridlocked traffic 交通堵塞

　　self-driving car 自动驾驶汽车

　　energy-efficient 节能的

　　collision（车辆）碰撞，相撞

　　fuel consumption 燃油消耗量，耗油量

　　motorised 机动（化）的

　　infrastructure 基础设施

　　hazardous 危险的

　　energy-intensive 耗能的

　　roadless 无道路的

　　car-free 无车的，车辆禁行的

　　vehicle 车辆，交通工具

 

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