The article is an attempt to evaluate the actions taken by modernists to build car arter-ies in the 19th century urban space of industrial centers of the former Congress Kingdom – Łódź and Zagłębie Dąbrowskie from the perspective of the history of modernization pro-cesses. The author tries to place his considerations in the context of the discursive image of the 19th century city, which influenced the views of people living in the twentieth century and had a direct impact on their decisions. Both in Łódź and in Zagłebie building of urban motorways led into the atrophy of historical districts, which probably took the most severe form in Będzin, where the historic Old Town completely lost its importance as the city cen-ter. The unsuccessful modernization experienced by these cities should be interpreted as a memento and lesson for all those who, in the name of repairing the world, are ready to succumb to radicalism and implement revolutionary solutions.