Macadam
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![John Loudon McAdam (1756–1836)[6]](/uploads/202502/15/John_Loudon_McAdam4617.jpg)
![Photograph of Macadam Road, ca 1850s, Nicolaus, California[9]](/uploads/202502/15/Macadam_road_1850s4617.jpg)
Macadam is a type of road construction pioneered by Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam around 1820. The method simplified what had been considered state of the art at that point. Single-sized aggregate layers of small angular stones are placed in shallow lifts and compacted thoroughly. A binding layer of stone dust, crushed stone from the original material may form; it may also, after rolling, be covered with a binder of fines and small crushed rock.