Thoroughfare

The transport route is used to handle a change in location of people and goods. At the same time the term is used as a collective term for various modes of transport. These measures are mainly roads and trails of all types and railways, (also called land transport infrastructure, including the accompanying structures such as bridges, tunnels and drainage structures). , And waterways, air traffic routes and pipelines

A traffic route can be both artificially created as well be a natural origin, such as traffic or favoring enabling environment characteristics such as mountain passes, through valleys, rivers or lakes.

In the doctrine 's geographical guidance systems and equipment also are part of the traffic routes.

Features

The development of transport infrastructure is up to the traffic policy, the planning and construction of the road construction. The responsibility for the maintenance of a highway can be both public and private. The so-called construction agencies, is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the traffic route.

A transport infrastructure is well developed, if it links the different modes of transport optimally with each other, so the switch or envelope can be smoothly from one to the other means of transport. Today, for example connections to highways and railways are important for ports, airports should also be connected to these traffic routes and allow a switch to public transport. In cities it is the challenge of urban planners, not to overload the streets. That is, the public transport must be priced and time an attractive alternative to private transport.

Historical development

In Europe, the earliest long-distance paths (next to the coastal shipping ) Rivers and walkways that led on dry land. They were not particularly developed, allowed traders in ancient times but the long-distance transport with first commodities such as salt, flint, honey, metals, ceramics and weapons. The Romans put in historical times highways in a big way, primarily to allow rapid movement of troops. These roads were then also the civilian people and goods as well as the fast forwarding of messages. Canals are known before the Roman era from China and Egypt.

Two aspects of the development of the transport infrastructure are important for trade: The time saved by well-developed transport infrastructure lowers transport costs and makes trading perishable goods at all possible. This benefit regions to high cost or high in shrinkage could not market before their due products. A classic example of this is the Canal du Midi in southern France, the region is the first time allowed to export grain. She moved so figuratively speaking " closer" to the urban markets approach.

In Germany, it was in the Middle Ages mostly the edges of mountain ranges that were suitable for highways. They had a natural drainage through the slope gradient and, accordingly, mostly dry and solid surfaces.

Military point of view followed by the construction of long straight roads in Prussia in the 18th century, which were lined with trees. They served the rapid redeployment of forces, the trees should protect the soldiers in the summer the heat. In the construction of the first motorways in Germany such aspects played a role.

The construction of bridges over rivers diverted in the past of goods and people in a funnel shape towards these. It is often written, a city was " conveniently located ". In fact, it is usually so that the city has developed through the development of transport infrastructure itself this convenient location, or has influenced the national expansion in their interest.

Already in absolutism was invested heavily in the construction of canals and navigable rivers. Waterways were the cheapest Thoroughfare and capable of transporting larger and heavier loads over long distances. England was a pioneer here, and in continental Europe, the historic canal network linking the Rhine and Mosel is now a popular spot for boaters. It was important here is the development and evolution of lock technology.

Also, sea and inland ports belong to transport infrastructure. They evolved by leaps and bounds in Europe in the early Middle Ages ( Hanse ) and worldwide in the 18th and 19th centuries. This trend is continuing unabated ( container shipping ).

Barges were pulled from the shore before the invention of the steam engine in the rule of horses, mules or people with linen, on the so-called towpaths. These ways are today often still preserved and then serve rather to recreation. The importance of inland waterway transport has been increasing since about 150 years tends to decline, however, could bring a new container barge recovery.

With the invention of the steam engine and the railroad in the 19th century, the waterways were replaced as the most cost-effective transportation. Thus, the transportation costs and transport times fell even further. The described the Canal du Midi regional aspect has now received a continental dimension. Cities that were connected to the main-line railways, improved their relative position, for excluded cities they worsened.

The invention of the automobile led and still leads today to the massive expansion of the road network. Both individual as well as transport of goods traffic has been observed worldwide still.

In the cities, the infrastructure for the transport of workers and employees to and from work has been expanded since the industrial revolution. After trams (initially pulled by horses, then electrified ) subways were built in some places. Even buses were and are important transport of local public transport (LPT ).

Air traffic had initially only one meaning for the carriage of passengers, its importance for the movement of goods takes but. For tourism, he has made ​​a lot of goals in the first accessible, thereby contributing greatly to the economic development. Here it is not the goods that are faster to the consumer, but conversely the consumer faster (and cheaper) to get to the destination.