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Selection of Routes
 What routes did the roads follow? Since the
major roads were built to serve the needs of the military, the
routes usually connected major military sites and
administrative centers. However, due to various constant
natural features of the land such as the topography, types of
soil and rock, locations of streams and water, and climate and
vegetation, the Roman routes often followed earlier routes.
Thus, roads like the Via Nova paralleled earlier routes in
some places, but in others created new lines of travel. The
main consideration in the selection of the route was the
establishment of a road that would provide firm footing for
infantry in all weather. Therefore, steeper grades than what
would have been normal for wagons were acceptable, and strait
routes, or routes as strait as reasonably allowed by the
terrain, were preferred. There was no standard design
regarding building materials, width, and many other factors
associated with the roads. However, the more important viae
publicae were wider (at least the width of two vehicles or
approx 5 meters/16 feet wide), built of more durable material
such as stone, and were carefully maintained. These general
practices can be seen from portions of the Via Nova that still
exist. For example, there is a 6 to 10 percent grade on
preserved portions of the c. 5.5 meter/18 foot wide road on
the southern side of the steep valley of the Wadi Hasa. |
