Ontario, CA, August 18, 2017 – CalPortland joined The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California Nevada Cement Association, Southwest Concrete Pavement Association, the American Concrete Pavement Association and Portland Cement Association to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Interstate 10 (I-10) today, at the Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center in Ontario. State legislators, leadership of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and construction industry leaders gathered to commemorate the seventy year anniversary of the concrete pavement freeway, which is both a vital link to business, commerce and personal mobility in the region, and crucial key to the provision of goods and services nationwide.
Dignitaries included Allen Hamblen, President/CEO of CalPortland Company and 2017 Chairman of the Portland Cement Association; The Hon. Jim Frazier, Assembly Member (11th District) and Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee; The Hon. Eloise Gomez-Reyes, Assembly Member (47th District), and John Bulinski, Caltrans District 8 Director.
It is not every day that a highway is the reason for a major celebration, but for a section of I-10 between Ontario and San Bernardino, today’s event marked the freeway’s remarkable 70-year journey. The California State Senate and State Assembly recognized the pavement with a formal proclamation, calling attention to the pavement’s longevity and remarkable service. The proclamation also recognizes the freeway for its sustainability and resiliency to the forces of nature and high traffic volumes – over 270,000 per day.
In 1947, CalPortland provided the cement from its Colton cement plant for the original construction of the segments of the highway to two long-time market partners that are now both 100-year-old companies and still in business; Matich Corporation and Griffith Company. CalPortland recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. President/CEO Allen Hamblen joined with legislators, transportation officials, and contractors praising the performance of the pavement design and rehabilitation strategies used by Caltrans to maintain the pavement over its 70-year life. “It is with great spirit today that I express my hearty congratulations to Caltrans, CalPortland, Matich Corporation, Griffith Company, and the State of California,” Hamblen said. “This section of highway is not only a testament of the durability and sustainability of quality concrete construction, it is also a reminder of how we must design and construct resilient projects that will withstand the impacts of increased use and an increasingly demanding environment.”
“I celebrate this incredible and remarkable event of the 70th anniversary of this seemingly indestructible pavement”, said Assembly Member and Transportation Chairman Jim Frazier. “This is an amazing success story of a heavily used concrete pavement that has provided maximum return on investment and has exceeded its original design life by fifty years!”
Assembly Member Eloise Gomez-Reyes told the group, “I grew up in Colton and realize how important Interstate 10 is to the Inland Empire so I am proud to be celebrating this incredible event. CalPortland Colton Cement is also very important to me, I am here to help celebrate my people.”
I-10 is one of the nation’s most vital links to mobility for goods movement, business, commerce and personal mobility in the region. When the original U.S. Route 70-99 was planned in 1945 and built in 1947, Caltrans officials likely never envisioned that it would still be carrying traffic fifty years longer than the twenty years for which it was designed.
In addition to the many features and benefits the pavement was also the first in the nation to employ a restoration method called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding removes the surface “bumps” and other irregularities, restoring the pavement almost to its new condition. First used as part of a restoration and expansion project on this section of the freeway in 1967, diamond grinding has become a time-tested, reliable, durable and cost-effective alternative to resurfacing or reconstruction.
The original 70-year-old lanes of I-10 are still providing safe passage for the traffic volumes of today, which include demanding heavy truck loads, and will continue to act as an integral part of Interstate 10 for years to come.
About CalPortland
CalPortland Company is a major producer of cement, ready mixed concrete, aggregates, concrete products and asphalt in the western United States and Canada. Founded in 1891 with the principle of providing unsurpassed quality, CalPortland remains a leader in the industry through its commitment to quality, safety, customer service, technical excellence and environmental leadership. The company maintains its headquarters in Glendora, California and operates in the Western U.S. and two Canadian Provinces. For more information about CalPortland Company, visit www.calportland.com.
