Bridging the gap: riverine nature-based solutions for climate resilient transportation infrastructure in the United States

This paper synthesizes reports, guidelines, and conversations with stakeholders regarding the use of riverine nature-based solutions (NBS) alongside transportation infrastructure in the United States. Transportation infrastructure in the riverine environment, including roads, bridges, culverts, train tracks, pathways, and embankments, is increasingly at risk under climate change.

Typical events or extreme disturbances can lead to destabilized, compromised, flooded, or impassible infrastructure. These risks are particularly concerning for infrastructure that enables critical services and emergency response. Nature-based solutions (NBS) can serve as important tools for managing climate risks to transportation infrastructure in the riverine environment. The authors discuss challenges for transportation projects incorporating riverine NBS and present potential solutions as an action-oriented research agenda to drive the use of riverine NBS for climate-resilient transportation infrastructure.