It is sometimes thought that in order to solve traffic congestion wider roads are to be built. While this can certainly be a viable solution, there are drawbacks and, therefore, other ideas are needed.
Constructing wider roads could have a positive impact on the car flow, particularly during rush hour. Upgrading the outdated infrastructure and implementing novel technologies to direct the volume of vehicles could theoretically reduce congestion. However, there might be an opposite effect, where more space for personal cars will encourage more people to opt for this mode of transportation.
With the growing population and the outward growth of the major cities, wider roads may not be enough to tackle the problem. For this reason, improving public transport and encouraging its use should also be considered as a potential solution. Furthermore, pollution and limited land availability in many places across the globe mean road expansion is impossible. Therefore, by construction overhead bridges or by digging tunnels, the congestion issues can be solved by utilising already available space effectively.
In conclusion, although I agree that in some instances road expansion is the most viable solution available, improving public transport and looking at alternative traffic flow options must be considered to tackle the problems with road congestion.