VIDEO: Concrete paving - you’ve come a long way, baby!

It’s 1948. The grand scheme of creating an Interstate Highway system in the US is still barely a twinkle in President Dwight Eisenhower’s military eye. Highway construction improved greatly in the late 1950s and early 1960s as the American contractors became more mechanized and therefore efficient at laying roads faster and of better quality. But how did they build a road back then in 1948? Thanks to Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, we have a movie of just how a concrete highway was created. The constr
July 14, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
It’s 1948. The grand scheme of creating an Interstate Highway system in the US is still barely a twinkle in President Dwight Eisenhower’s military eye. Highway construction improved greatly in the late 1950s and early 1960s as the American contractors became more mechanized and therefore efficient at laying roads faster and of better quality.

But how did they build a road back then in 1948?

Thanks to Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, we have a movie of just how a concrete highway was created. The construction site looked more like a chain gang from a nearby prison that a professionally done infrastructure project.

Viewers just might be able to feel the sun’s heat as workers toil into the long day.

If this video piqued your curiosity about road building projects back then, %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal click here Visit youtube Page false https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neaoGclvips false false%> to see a 1951 film from the Bethlehem Steel Company. Things have apparently moved on since 1948 and steel is making inroads. At least this film is in colour.

Related Content

  • Eberspaecher is now offering innovative air-conditioning technology
    March 27, 2013
    German heating and climate control equipment specialist Eberspaecher is offering new thermal management products for construction vehicles. The innovations include a new generation of operating elements as well as air outlets and the high performance Ebercool X-Treme roof top air conditioner. In addition, the company is showing an integrated heating and climate control module for the driver’s cab. Simple and robust, the new EasyStart Select features a straightforward design and this operating element for ai
    Read More
  • Third stage of Sydney’s WestConnex tunnel to be 1km longer
    December 4, 2014
    Changes to the third stage of the planned WestConnex motorway have been announced by Duncan Gay, Roads Minister of Australia’s New South Wales state. The motorway tunnel will be 8km, around 1km longer than initially announced under the US$9.7 billion WestConnex project of 33km of new roads around the city of Sydney. The changes are not likely to cost more, according to the NSW government. The third stage would cover the route between Haberfield and St. Peters and be constructed between 2018 and 2023.
    Read More
  • Haulotte sees sales growth in 2012
    January 6, 2017
    French access and telehandler manufacturer Haulotte returned to profit in 2012 and, though the first quarter of 2013 is down year-on-year, CEO Alexandre Saubot remains confident about continued growth this year. “We achieved a decent performance in 2012 with almost 16% growth,” said Saubot. “2013 will remain a challenge for us, we will have to continue to work hard for sales growth.”
    Read More
  • Haulotte sees sales growth in 2012
    April 18, 2013
    French access and telehandler manufacturer Haulotte returned to profit in 2012 and, though the first quarter of 2013 is down year-on-year, CEO Alexandre Saubot remains confident about continued growth this year. “We achieved a decent performance in 2012 with almost 16% growth,” said Saubot. “2013 will remain a challenge for us, we will have to continue to work hard for sales growth.”
    Read More

Highlighted Content