Roads are essential to the integration of other critical infrastructure in a community. They provide a means for transporting people, goods, and services to and from critical infrastructure facilities. For example, roads are used to transport:

• Energy: Roads are used to transport energy resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to power plants. They are also used to transport electricity from power plants to homes and businesses.

Water: Roads are used to transport water from water treatment plants to homes and businesses. They are also used to transport wastewater from homes and businesses to wastewater treatment plants.

In addition to transporting people, goods, and services, roads also play an important role in supporting other critical infrastructure. For example, roads are used to:

• Provide access to critical infrastructure facilities: Roads provide access to critical infrastructure facilities, such as power plants, water treatment plants, and wastewater treatment plants. This access is essential for the operation and maintenance of these facilities.

Critical Infrastructure Elements Served by the Road System

The road system serves a wide range of critical infrastructure elements, including:

• Energy: The energy sector includes power plants, substations, transmission lines, and natural gas pipelines.
• Water: The water sector includes water treatment plants, water storage facilities, and wastewater treatment plants.
• Communications: The communications sector includes telecommunications networks, cell towers, and broadcast towers.
• Healthcare: The healthcare sector includes hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
• Emergency services: The emergency services sector includes fire stations, police stations, and ambulance stations.
• Transportation: The transportation sector includes airports, ports, and railways.
• Food and agriculture: The food and agriculture sector includes farms, food processing facilities, and grocery stores.
• Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector includes factories and warehouses.
• Defense: The defense sector includes military bases and defense contractors.

Conclusion

The road system plays a vital role in integrating the critical infrastructure of a community. It provides a means for transporting people, goods, and services to and from critical infrastructure facilities. Roads also provide access to critical infrastructure facilities, support economic activity, and promote social well-being.

The road system is essential to the operation and maintenance of all critical infrastructure sectors. It is important to protect and maintain the road system in order to ensure the resilience of the community.