A military road is a type of road built by the United States Army. They are used mostly by soldiers, government officials, and sometimes the public. Most military roads are not accessible by public vehicles, however, some are designated as state highways that maintains it. Some military roads are known as government access roads, since the military is a part of the U.S. government. Anyone who is not a government official that drives on these private roads usually is summoned or prosecuted. Military roads have played a significant role during America's heyday in the 18th century. They linked important cities during wars, as well as vital links for commercial and telegraph use. Swamps and streams were large obstacles when building military routes in various locations in the United States.