Cement by Moonlight

 

To honor Cleveland's WWII veterans, a stretch of highway was first known as the Memorial Shoreway, the first east-west freeway in Greater Cleveland. Known officially as the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway (a section of I-90), it closely follows the shore of Lake Erie and connects the east and west sides of Cleveland via the Main Avenue Bridge over the Cuyahoga River. The 1960 illustration is by Peter Helck (1893-1988). Best known for his automobile paintings, note his inclusion of a current model Buick and Ford Falcon. But the Ford Thunderbird, center, is not brand new as a 1960 model has six taillights. You may note the red 1960 Chevrolet left of center and the burgundy Chrysler product at the far left going in the opposite direction.

Founded in 1916, Portland Cement Association is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. Headquartered in Skokie, Illinois, and Washington, DC., they have facilities in all fifty states. 

Mark Twain Expressway

 

A section of Interstate 70 in St. Louis, Missouri is designated the Mark Twain Expressway. Interstate 70 traverses nearly the width of the US, serving major metropolitan areas such as Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus and Baltimore. The west end connects with Interstate 15 at Cove Fort, Utah with no plans to extend I-70 west beyond that point. Bill Fleming's illustration for the Portland Cement Association captures the highway's original, simple course near Lambert-St. Louis Airport in 1960. 

Rolling on The Deegan

 

By 1956, drive time from the New York Thruway to Manhattan was nearly cut in half by the eight-mile stretch of the Interstate Highway System, designated the Major Deegan Expressway after William Francis Deegan. Known officially as Interstate 87 by 1957, the highway now extends over 333 miles along the eastern edge of New York State becoming a major thoroughfare between New York City and Montreal. 

According to a Portland Cement Association advertisement, the expressway was a dramatic example of the benefits of the Interstate Highway System then being built. Their "new-type concrete" became 20% stronger in the first five years. What happens after five years is up for debate. Concrete may break apart under stress or sections may rise or lower due to winter freezing and thawing. Given the advancements in paving machinery and materials, it would seem today the preferred highway paving material is [new-type] asphalt offering quieter travel and less expense to produce per mile.