Ep 9. The Road to Nowhere

In season 1 episode 9 of Life After People: The Series titled "The Road to Nowhere," viewers are taken on a journey to explore what would happen to the world's vast system of highways and roads if humans were to suddenly disappear. With the collapse of human civilization, roads and highways that were once bustling with busy traffic now lie completely empty and lifeless.

The episode shows the effects of natural disasters and neglect on the roads, as well as the role of weather and vegetation in reclaiming the areas. The question of what happens to all the abandoned cars and trucks on the roads is also tackled, as rust and decay take over.

As the episode progresses, viewers are taken to various locations around the world to witness the different ways in which roadways would succumb to the forces of nature. For example, the team visits a city where the roads are built on top of unstable ground, facing eventual collapse without human intervention. In another place, the show explores a highway in a dry, dusty climate, where the lack of vegetation allows the ground to dry out and crack, potentially leading to a complete collapse of the road.

The episode also delves into the issue of infrastructure, as the absence of human maintenance causes roads and highways to crumble and eventually vanish. The show examines how this deterioration would impact the movement of animals and flora, and how it could potentially disrupt the balance of local ecosystems.

One of the key takeaways from "The Road to Nowhere" is the idea that nature always prevails. Despite the temporary nature of human infrastructure, life will continue in some form even if humans are no longer around to maintain it. The episode reminds us of just how small a part we play in the grand scheme of things, and how little control we truly have over the planet we call home.

Overall, "The Road to Nowhere" offers a thought-provoking and at times eerie vision of a world without humans, where the remnants of our civilization slowly crumble and disappear. It's a stark reminder of our own impermanence and of the delicate balance that exists between humanity and the natural world.