But that's true of public transit projects too. They always promise to reduce congestion and never actually do. Congestion charging is probably the only way to really reduce congestion and in many ways the solution is worse than the problem.

And, more than not being a problem, the highway filling up immediately is actually a benefit. Because more people are able and are choosing to travel, to accomplish whatever they need and want to accomplish.

Granted, the externality costs of all that car travel are high. But that's almost a separate issue and one that we really should be solving by a better accounting of costs and additional taxes. It's a shame that won't happen.