Answer: A. canals cost less to construct than roads.
Other than being the oldest means of transportation, water transportation is the cheapest. Water transportation operates on a natural track and therefore less cost in capital investment, construction, and maintenance. Generally, the construction and maintenance cost of canals and other forms of waterways is cheaper than that of roads. During the 1700s and 1800s, before railroads became predominantly used, waterways and canals were the most popular and generally accepted means of transportation. Water doesn’t wear off and doesn’t need much maintenance as compared to roads. With this, water transportation was preferred over road transportation.