"Instead of being planned, [many Danish roads] emerged naturally and typically follow old property lines between fields and natural divisions in the landscape ... The Baroque avenues that linked manors with the landscape later became a theme for road architecture in many European countries."

History

Many Danish roads are several centuries old. Instead of being planned, these roads emerged naturally and typically follow old property lines between fields and natural divisions in the landscape. The alignment of these roads reflects the period's modes of transportation, on either horseback or foot and later by carriage and wagon.

Proper road projects and road architecture in a modern sense first emerged in Denmark in 1761, when Frederik V decided to establish a national network of main roads. Since there was no local expertise, road engineers were brought in from France to construct the modern thoroughfares of the day. These new, almost ruler-straight royal roads, which were laid out mainly on the island of Zealand, were built according to the period's principles for military roads, high in the terrain. Almost a century passed before this network was completed. In addition to main roads, a number of new secondary roads were laid out according to the same principles at the same time.

The Road Ordinance of December 13, 1793, Denmark's first compilation of road legislation, contained regulations on how roads were to be laid out - their structure, cross-section, alignment, etc. The ordinance also contained rules on road equipment. Trees were to be planted along the new roads to protect travelers against wind and weather. This is the origin of many of the roads that were planted with rows of trees to provide shade and guide travelers. These roads characterized the Danish landscape until the 1950s, when increasing vehicular traffic required wider thoroughfares, making it necessary to cut down trees. This sparked a major debate for and against roadside trees, a debate that is still going on.

Industrialization, which got under way in Denmark in earnest at the end of the 19th century, had caused mass migration to the rapidly growing cities. Copenhagen, in particular, changed, with new quarters springing up outside the old city limits and more major roads being laid out.

During the second half of the 19th century, highways lost their importance for long-distance transport, which was taken over by the railroads, and not many new highways were built during this period. Not until vehicular traffic began to grow in earnest in the course of the 1920s did roads again become increasingly important. When dust from dirt roads became a nuisance, it was necessary to pave highways, which were simultaneously expanded to accommodate the growing traffic. During this period (1920s-1930s), a number of new roads were also laid out and several large bridges built.

The freeway also made its advent, especially in Germany, where rules were even laid down for freeway design and how the road was to be incorporated into the landscape. These principles were followed when the first Danish freeways were built at the beginning of the 1950s. Steadily increasing vehicular traffic following the Second World War necessitated major expansions of the road network, with the primary focus on freeways. Since these large-scale projects had a serious impact on the landscape, architects and landscape architects were brought in at the planning stage, giving them major influence on the roads' design and their integration into the landscape. City streets also gained new architectural importance. The goal was to create more beautiful cityscapes and streets, and as a whole improve the urban milieu. Other factors were also including in this planning, for example improving traffic safety. Both the road's own history and that of its surroundings may be taken into account in choosing the right architectural design.