A mountain village celebrates the opening of a new road, expecting easier travel to the valley. During construction, the old path was often blocked, and travel temporarily became more difficult. After opening, ordinary journeys shortened, but winter closures continued because the highest section remained exposed to snow. A report that includes only the construction period may describe the project as harmful; one that includes only clear summer days may describe access as permanently solved. Both omit part of the relevant timeline. The effect of an intervention can vary between transition, normal operation, and exceptional conditions. An accurate account marks those phases instead of forcing them into a single timeless judgment. The question is not simply whether travel improved, but when, compared with what, and under which conditions.