What is the oldest road in the world that has been in continuous use?
score:10
Damascus, in southwestern Syria, is widely believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Therefore, it's not a stretch to suggest that the city of Damascus has the oldest road in the world. A road that would also meet the following criteria.
1. System of paving
2. Continual upkeep
3. Continual control by a city
4. Continuous use, from construction to present day
Damascus Straight Street is the Roman street Decumanus Maximus and dates at least as far back as the first century AD.
In Roman times, Straight Street was 26 meters wide and 1,570 meters long, lined on both sides with covered porticos containing shops. The present road follows the same line, starting at Bab Sharqi in the East, crossing the whole width of the ancient city of Damascus, and coming out at the end of Suq Madhat Pasha, 20 meters to the North of Bab al-Jabiya on the western side. However, the present road is narrower than the ancient one, and via upkeep about 4 meters above its original level.
Upvote:7
Italy's Appian Way began construction in 312 BCE. It is still in use, at least as a bicycle path. I am not certain whether any of the current material could be dated to the original construction.
Links: Wikipedia; New York Times (reg. req.).
Upvote:7
I would vote for Grand Trunk Road.
EDIT: I just learned about the Ridgeway, in England. Over 5,000 years old and still in use.
Upvote:17
I think, it depends on the definition of a road.
Most old roads will start as a path trail, later it will be paved. Maybe it will decline and become again a trail.
I think some of the oldest roads will be a mountain pass.
An example: The Brenner Pass in the Alps was already used in the stone age (Ötzi was found nearby).
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