Highways became revolutionary a hundred years later, in the twenties of the 20th century. This is when the German autobahn was being built, for example, and also in the US it started with acts made in the twenties as well. Highways did not exist in the late 1800s but rather in the second decade of the twentieth century.
"Highways" were not likely to be a part of the transportation revolution in cities and suburbs in the late 1800's since cars did not exist in any modern form to the extend where they would need an extensive network of roads.
The event that marked the end of the Roman Republic is often attributed to the defeat of Marc Antony in 31 BC at the Battle of Actium which ended the period of civil war.
