infrastructure projects have traditionally been a reliable form of mass non-minimum-wage employment.

Also a reliable form of siphoning public money into well-connected private pockets.

Not saying that the employment benefits aren't real, but the other problem needs to be solved to get the best benefit.

+ bad infrastructure is not evenly distributed and its effects are more likely to impact poorer parts.

And not just that - transportation and communication are pillars of any economy. When you stop investing in them, you are kneecapping growth in general.

I remember working at a phone company around 1999-2001. Some folks were just getting landlines. I'm pretty sure the same folks are slow to get decent quality internet and decent cell service. Even then, finding a job without telephone service was difficult. Similar situations occur without proper communication now.

Similar problems exist when folks lack sanitary conditions or mass transit proves to be completely inadequate or doesn't exist. At best, the sanitation easily means folks become sick more easily - which can push folks into poverty because the health care infrastructure and care isn't where it should be.

Now, I don't have facts to back these up, but they aren't exactly insane ideas either.

I generates high quality blue collar jobs. It spreads the gov money for all the society with clean water, good roads and better transport.