Historical Concrete Pavement Explorer – A site dedicated to preserving the history of concrete pavements.

Coplay Cement Plant

Year Built: 1871

Pavement Type: Other

Although this is not a pavement, without Portland Cement, a concrete pavement we cannot construct. Pennsylvania is our Nation’s Birthplace of the Portland Cement Industry. In 1871, David O. Saylor applies for patent for the cement manufacturing process. The Coplay Company facility still exists as a historic site in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. Read more…

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Recognized by ACPA/National in 2013 with the lifetime pavement performance award, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, opened to vehicular traffic on October 1, 1940, is known as America’s First Super-highway. Read more…

Mountain Ave

Year Built: 1917-1922

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

Mountain Avenue paved 1917-1922 City of Fort Collins built 8.53 miles from 1916-1927 all over town 5.69 miles still in service Read more…

Central Ave., Urbana between Park and University

Year Built: August 21, 1919

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

Excerpted from Notice of Public Hearing, Central Ave. Improvement No. 2, March 1, 1919 ————————————- ESTIMATE Urbana, Illinois, March 1, 1919. To the Board of Local Improvements of the City of Urbana. Illinois, : Gentlemen: . . I (10 hereby certify that the estimate of the cost of the local improvement of Central Avenue from the North Property Line of University Read more…

East Third & Oak Streets Delevan, IL

Year Built: 1914

Pavement Type: Jointed Reinforced

The section consist of several blocks of concrete remaining from the original 22 blocks of concrete pavement construction in the City of Delevan, IL in 1914. Located on East Third street, the longest section ranges from 32-feet wide to 42-feet wide back to back of curb and is steel reinforced with a long panel design. We believe the steel to have Read more…

First and Oldest Concrete Pavements in U.S. – Main Street and Court Avenue, City Square in Bellefontaine, OH

Year Built: 1891 and 1893

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

The first concrete pavement constructed in the U.S. was Main Street, built next to Logan County Courthouse in Bellefontaine, Ohio. George W. Bartholomew who founded the Buckeye Portland Cement Company, built the section in 1891 after advocating for it for a few years. He had to post a $5,000 bond for a five year guarantee. After the success of Main Street, Read more…

AASHO Road Test – Ottawa, IL

Year Built: 1958

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

The AASHO Road Test was one of the most ambitious test sections ever built and analyzed. Six test loops were built in Ottawa, Illinois between 1956 and 1958 and the test was performed from 1958 to 1960. The test was designed to analyze the various structural responses of different pavement designs exposed to highway loadings in a typical northern climate. Read more…

Original Seedling Mile – Lincoln Highway – Mount Vernon Road, Mt. Vernon, IL

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

In 1918 the original Lincoln Highway Seedling Mile was placed just west of Mount Vernon, Illinois. Seedling miles were popular in the 1910’s as the industry hoped that building these would drive for lobbying of more paved roads. Most of these seedling miles were one lane that was 9 feet wide. A plaque near the site commemorates the location. This Read more…

First Concrete Runway – Ford Field – Dearborn, MI

Year Built: 1928-1929

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

With the development of the airplane in the early 20th century, airfields and runways were quickly needed. The first concrete runway was placed in Dearborn, Michigan at Ford Field in 1928. The runways were originally grass when the airfield opened in 1924. The early concrete runways were built in a similar manner to highways in that many of them featured Read more…

Oldest Still in Service Pavement in Iowa – Eddyville Cemetery Road, Eddyville, IA

Year Built: 1909

Pavement Type: Plain Jointed

Eddyville Cemetery Road was built in 1909 in Eddyville, Iowa. The pavement was built because residents were upset with the deep sand during dry periods. It is the oldest farm to market road in Iowa. The pavement is still in service today. Read more…