The Romans were obsessed with efficiency. Like, obsessed. If there was a hill in the way, they didn't go around it. They went through it. Or, more accurately, they built a ramp over it.
This road wasn’t about sightseeing. It was about tax collection, troop movement, and sending messages at a speed that would make a pigeon jealous. You could get a letter from London to York in under a week. In Roman times, that was basically teleportation.
The Secret Sauce: Layers Upon Layers
How did they build it? Like a lasagna, but made of rock. First, they dug a ditch. Then they threw in big stones. Then smaller stones. Then gravel. Then a layer of sand. Finally, they put the paving stones on top.
And they sloped it just a bit. That way, rain ran off the sides. No puddles. No mud. Just a nice, dry, straight highway. Honestly, it’s better built than some modern roads near my house. Don’t get me started on the potholes.
It was about 10 meters wide. That’s enough for two chariots to pass each other. Or, more likely, one chariot and a grumpy centurion on a horse.
Roman Roads UK - Caltec
