De via publica et itinere publico reficiendo
(Concerning the interdict which has reference to repairs of public streets and highways.)
1 Ulpianus libro sexagensimo octavo ad edictum. Praetor ait: ‘Quo minus illi viam publicam iterve publicum aperire reficere liceat, dum ne ea via idve iter deterius fiat, vim fieri veto’. 1Viam aperire est ad veterem altitudinem latitudinemque restituere. sed et purgare refectionis portio est: purgare autem proprie dicitur ad libramentum proprium redigere sublato eo quod super eam esset. reficit enim et qui aperit et qui purgat et omnes omnino, qui in pristinum statum reducunt. 2Si quis in specie refectionis deteriorem viam facit, impune vim patietur. propter quod neque latiorem neque longiorem neque altiorem neque humiliorem viam sub nomine refectionis is qui intercidit potest facere, vel in viam terrenam glaream inicere aut sternere viam lapide quae terrena sit, vel contra lapide stratam terrenam facere. 3Interdictum hoc perpetuo dabitur et omnibus et in omnes, et habet condemnationem in id quod actoris intererit.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXVIII The Prætor says: “I forbid force to be employed to prevent anyone from opening up or repairing a public street or highway who has the right to do so, unless the condition of the street or highway may be rendered worse thereby.” 1To open up a street is to restore it to its former height and breadth; and it is a part of the repair of streets to clean them. Properly speaking, however, to clean a street means to reduce it to its proper level by removing whatever has been deposited on it. For he who repairs a street, as well as he who opens up and cleans it, are persons who restore it to its former condition. 2If anyone, under the pretext of repairing a street, makes it worse, force can be employed against him with impunity, because he who avails himself of the interdict under the pretext of reparation cannot make the street wider, longer, higher, or lower, nor can he throw sand into it, or pave it with stone, if it is merely composed of earth; or, on the other hand, where it has been paved with stone, can he remove it, leaving only the soil. 3This interdict is perpetual, is granted for and against everyone, and judgment is rendered under it to the extent of the interest of the plaintiff.
2 Javolenus, On Cassius, Book X. The public cannot lose a highway by failing to make use of it.
3 Paulus libro primo sententiarum. Si in agrum vicini viam publicam quis reiecerit, tantum in eum viae receptae actio dabitur, quanti eius interest, cuius fundo iniuria irrogata est. 1Qui viam publicam exaraverit, ad munitionem eius solus compellitur.