Welcome to part two of our series,
“Back to the Future: Concrete’s Role in Preserving the Interstate System.”
This series will take you on a journey through the rich history of roadway construction, sharing fun facts along with insights into what the future holds for highway construction. We hope each installment brings you a bit of industry-insider knowledge you didn’t know before!
Concrete Pavement comes to America
In the second installment of our series, we uncover the fascinating history of concrete pavement in the U.S. We begin our journey in the 1800s with the construction of the National Road, also known as the Cumberland Road, which connected Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois. As the first federally funded road in U.S. history, the National Road was a main route to the Northwest Territory for several years, paving the way for future infrastructure.
A national revolution
The first concrete pavement constructed in the U.S. was on Main Street in Bellefontaine, Ohio. George W. Bartholomew, who founded the Buckeye Portland Cement Company, built the section in 1891, inadvertently ushering in a national revolution of long life pavements.
Fast forward to 1904, when the first concrete pavement in Iowa was laid on First Street (also known as Eagle Street) in Le Mars. This pioneering effort aimed to eliminate the issues caused by dirt roads, such as mud and impassability during wet conditions. The concrete pavement remained in service until 1968.
In 1909, Detroit’s Woodward Avenue became the first mile-long concrete road, setting the stage for a revolution in road construction.
Fun fact: In 1909, streets in Duluth, Minnesota were constructed using portland cement concrete. Known as the "Granitoid Streets,” a two-block stretch of Seventh Street still has some of its original surface today. With more than 100 years in service, this pavement set a precedent for future road construction; showing the economic and environmental sustainability possible with concrete roadways!
Naturally, the need to repair and maintain these roads became a priority for subsequent generations of engineers to ensure that long life was achieved; ultimately resulting in the creation of concrete pavement preservation techniques and the IGGA.
Join us next time as we dive into the rapid advancements of the first half of the 20th century!
Comentarios