What are Roads Made Of?
Different roads are constructed from different materials, depending on their intended uses and public demand. Conventional roads intended for long-term automobile traffic are often constructed in layers, which may include sand, gravel, tar, paving bricks, asphalt or concrete. Specialized roads for commercial uses may use other materials such as recycled rubber or metals. Some early roads in the United States were actually constructed from split wooden logs laid out in tight rows. These were called corduroy roads. Perhaps the most common material used for roads is dirt. As men and primitive machines traveled the line of least resistance across the landscape, ruts would form in the ground itself. When property rights became established for landowners, these early dirt roads often formed along property lines. There was little formal creation of roads during these early days, but individuals were free to make improvements such as weed removal and bridge building. As the need for better roa
