Edward N. Hines

Edward Norris Hines (January 13, 1870 – June 4, 1938 ) was a member of the Wayne County Road Commission (of Wayne County, Michigan), from 1906 to 1938. he is one of the great innovators in road development.

Career As a cyclist in 1890, Hines formed a Good Roads organisation in Michigan which advocated for the development of county roads. This led to the passage of the County Road Law in 1893, During this time, Hines was president of the Detroit Wheelmen cycling club, and vice-president of the League of American Wheelmen.

Hines was appointed to the Wayne County Board of Roads at its inception in 1906, along with Henry Ford and Cassius R. Benton. In 1909, Hines was responsible for the construction of the first full mile of concrete road pavement in the world, the stretch of Woodward Avenue between Six Mile Road and Seven Mile Road in Detroit. The idea came to him after watching a leaky milk wagon leave a trail down the street. This simple idea has since been recognized as one of the most important single traffic safety devices in the history of highway transportation. Hines was a national leader in the concept of landscaping highway rights-of-way. He was instrumental in movements to beautify highways by eliminating power lines and billboards. In 1937, the Middle Rouge Parkway was renamed the Edward N. Hines Parkway, in his honor.

Honors and recognition

In 1935, Hines was awarded the George S. Bartlett Award for outstanding contribution to highway progress. He was later inducted into the Michigan Transportation Hall of Honor in 1972.