Inaugurated in 1924, Autostrada dei Laghi is the first motorway built in the world.

[1][2] The term "autostrada" was used for the first time in an official document in 1922 in which the engineer Piero Puricelli presented the project for the Autostrada dei Laghi ("Lakes Motorway"); with that term, it indicated those roads characterized by a straight path (as far as possible), without obstacles, characterized by a high achievable speed, passable only by motor vehicles (Italian: autoveicoli, hence the name) aimed at the rapid transport of goods and people.

[3] Italy was the first country in the world to build motorways reserved for fast traffic and for motor vehicles only.

[2] Piero Puricelli, a civil engineer and entrepreneur, received the first authorization to build a public-utility fast road in 1921, and completed the construction (one lane in each direction) between 1924 and 1926.

Piero Puricelli decided to cover the expenses by introducing a toll.