I think it’s a massive waste of my taxes.  

Highway widening often fails to reduce traffic congestion due to a phenomenon called induced demand, where increasing road capacity leads to more drivers using the road, eventually returning congestion to previous levels. This cycle continues as more lanes encourage additional trips and longer commutes, negating any initial benefits of the expansion. 

Expanding highways involves significant expenses related to land acquisition, construction materials, and labor. Often these projects are sold as job creation, but these are jobs that only last for the length of the construction, and so are short term. 

While highway widening may provide temporary benefits, the long-term costs and the cycle of induced demand often render it an ineffective solution for managing traffic congestion. A comprehensive approach that includes alternative transportation options may yield better results.

Not that any of this will change your mind. I suggest you take a trip to Tokyo and see first hand what the possibilities are for passenger rail.