|
|
|
|
INTRODUCTION - Road |
|
Road Construction | Earliest Roads | Road Routes | High-Speed FreewaysRoad, path established over land for the passage of vehicles, people, and animals. Roads provide dependable pathways for moving people and goods from one place to another. They range in quality from dirt paths to concrete-paved multilane highways.
Germany is famous for its high-speed freeways. These limited-access expressways, called autobahns, have a total length of about 11,000 km (6,800 mi). Roads are used by various forms of transportation, such as trucks, automobiles, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. Roads allow trucks to move goods from points of production, such as fields and factories, directly to markets and shopping centers. Private individuals rely on roads for safe and efficient automobile, motorcycle, and bicycle travel. Fire departments, medical services, and other government agencies depend on an organized system of roads to provide emergency services to the public in times of need. (Road Construction, Earliest Roads, Road Routes, High-Speed Freeways) 
A multilane freeway system in Los Angeles, California, has several entrance and exit ramps so vehicles can enter and exit traffic smoothly. When routes cross one another, one of the routes will be elevated so that intersections are avoided. (Road Construction, Earliest Roads, Road Routes, High-Speed Freeways) The earliest roads evolved from animal paths and served as trails for early hunters. Paths eventually grew around primitive settlements, and as trade grew, longer routes were developed to transport food and other important materials. The use of wheeled vehicles encouraged construction of better roads. The roads built by the ancient Romans were carefully planned and solidly constructed. (Road Construction, Earliest Roads, Road Routes, High-Speed Freeways) Modern methods of road construction were first developed in the 18th century. Innovations of the time included waterproof surfaces and better drainage systems. Modern engineers make use of a variety of materials and construction techniques to build roads that can handle the high volumes and stresses of modern automobile and truck traffic. (Road Construction, Earliest Roads, Road Routes, High-Speed Freeways) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|