When DC built the Southwest-Southeast Freeway, it simply demolished whole swaths of the surrounding neighborhoods. Photographs from the construction show the street grid that once existed, and the extent of the destruction just to speed driving to Virginia.

Looking west on May 9, 1958. All photos from DDOT.

Looking east from 4th Street on May 9, 1958.

Photos posted earlier show the construction in progress, 10 years later, as the freeway moved into Near Southeast.

Looking east on October 17, 1968.

Looking west on October 17, 1968.

Looking north on October 17, 1968. The freeway’s end is at the very left edge of the photo.

David Alpert created Greater Greater Washington in 2008 and was its executive director until 2020. He formerly worked in tech and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco Bay, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He lives with his wife and two children in Dupont Circle.