All Roads Lead to Potholes: What Ancient Rome and Labyrinths can Teach Rhode Island – Ed Iannuccilli

by Ed Iannuccilli, contributing writer

The Romans would never accept our roads.

Their roads were the arteries of the empire, of civilization, allowing them not only to move legions but also to enforce order and maintain communication across vast distances.

They understood 500 years ago that roads were their foundational link to people, waterways, and cities.

So why am I writing about ancient engineering? Quite frankly, because I am annoyed.

Whenever we travel from Bristol to South County, passing through Newport and traversing three distinct bridges, the journey becomes an ordeal. No matter which bridge or direction we choose, we are relentlessly jostled and bumped, practicing our best NASCAR maneuvers just to dodge crater-sized potholes. It takes the joy out of appreciating our state’s gorgeous coastal scenery.

Consider the impression this leaves on visitors. Is this really the welcoming mat we want to roll out for tourists exploring the southern gems of Rhode Island? It is nothing short of an embarrassment.

I need not outline their importance for more than just travel. We all know this. Anyway…

Roads support development.

Roads drive economic growth.

Roads guide us to work.

Roads enhance social connectivity.

Roads are essential for public services: access to schools, hospitals, emergency care, etc.

Quality roads are not a luxury—they are a core public utility.

As I considered this piece, I thought of a presentation I made about labyrinths. Yes, labyrinths. What is the connection?

Labyrinths and roads are pathways designed to guide human motion and connect people to pilgrimages, be they symbolic or not.

At first glance, ancient spiritual paths and modern highway networks might seem completely unrelated, but they are not.

A traditional labyrinth has only one continuous road leading to the center and back out.

People walked these stone paths as a spiritual substitute for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land when actual travel was too dangerous or expensive.

Believers followed the single winding road to the center on foot or on their knees to pray, meditate, or mark holy days.

Do city planners compare labyrinths to roads? If not, should they?

Labyrinthine city layouts were shaped by natural terrain, daily foot traffic, and defensive needs designed to confuse invaders.

Modern grid roads, by contrast, represent rational engineering, prioritizing efficiency, predictability, and vehicle travel.

Planned Roads are Grid networks that represent rational planning. They prioritize predictability, land division, and standard layouts that make infrastructure deployment straightforward.

Labyrinths invite inward reflection, calm, and deliberate motion. Utility roads exist for functional transit—getting from point A to point B safely and efficiently.

Roads exist for practical utility, connecting places, transporting goods, and allowing people to travel efficiently from one location to another.

Labyrinths are symbolic, single-path designs meant for meditation, while roads are functional, branching networks meant for travel and reaching a destination.

What if our transportation planning captured a small piece of both? What if a well-maintained, smooth road could provide not just utility, but a sense of ease and calm during a daily commute? For many drivers—and certainly for those of us navigating Rhode Island’s bridges—it absolutely would.

To our city planners, engineers, and public officials, let’s embark on a metaphorical journey toward higher standards. Let’s build and maintain our roads to a level that honors our communities, serves our economy, and perhaps even makes the Romans proud.

What benefits it would bring.

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Ed Iannuccilli – edwrites.net