Backgrounds for game

[Kicks]

Hey all! I'm new and it's super great to be here.
I've been working on a game for a while, and now I finally got to the hard stuff... at least hard for me. This being the backgrounds.

This location is a highway that goes out over an ocean.
I did a bunch of searches for highways and did a bunch of sketches, but nothing I really enjoy. I plan on doing some better ones, but I wanted to start getting help right away.
I'm new to painting with photoshop, so after I got the clouds and water laid out, the actual highway was horrible looking. I started over 3 times, each with a new reference drawing, but they all suck.


Here's the background...
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/8716/oceantry5gg6.png

Here's what it looks like in-game...
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2513/concepthelp1jh6.png

Here's a basic layout of what I need...
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5466/concepthelp2xr7.png

One of my main weaknesses is texture. I'll have a nice shape with good shading etc... but making it look like cement and making it interesting usually just has me making a bunch of cracks and graffiti and paper/garbage on and around it, but it still looks bad.

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
-K

PS
Sorry if this is in the wrong thread. I couldn't really find one that fit perfectly.

Thread for the game (http://www.rmxp.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6218)

[daveneale]

texture overlay?...i guess that would be easiest. I'd take a pic of tarmac from a reasonable height, mabe duplicate it a few times, clone stamp the edges so it blends, lay it down (but scew it into perspective) and bam, bobs your grannie

[Kicks]

Yeah, i've been working on some other maps, and taking textures from my own photos.
Seems like doing it yourself is always the best bet.
Thanks for the help dude.