Editing Claudius (section)

===Public works===
[[File:Porta Maggiore 030106.JPG|thumb|The [[Porta Maggiore]] in Rome: remains of aqueducts [[Aqua Claudia]] and [[Aqua Anio Novus]]]]
Claudius embarked on many public works throughout his reign, both in the capital and in the provinces. He built or finished two [[Aqueduct (Roman)|aqueducts]], the [[Aqua Claudia]], begun by Caligula, and the [[Aqua Anio Novus]].<ref>Gaius Tranquillus Suetonius, Graves, R., & Grant, M. (2006). ''The Twelve Caesars'' (p. 190). Penguin.

"Claudius also completed a task begun by Gaius: he brought cool and abundant springs called the Caerulean and the Curtian or Albudignan, as well as the New Anio, into Rome;..."</ref> These entered the city in 52 and met at the [[Porta Maggiore]]. He also restored a third, the [[Aqua Virgo]].

He paid special attention to transportation. Throughout Italy and the provinces he built roads and canals. Among these was a large canal leading from the [[Rhine]] to the sea, as well as [[Via Claudia Augusta|a road from Italy to Germany]] – both begun by his father, [[Nero Claudius Drusus|Drusus]]. Closer to Rome, he built a navigable canal on the [[Tiber]], leading to [[Portus]], his new port just north of [[Ostia Antica (archaeological site)|Ostia]]. This port was constructed in a semicircle with two [[Mole (architecture)|moles]] and a lighthouse at its mouth, reducing flooding in Rome.

The port at Ostia was part of Claudius's solution to the constant grain shortages that occurred in winter, after the Roman shipping season. The other part of his solution was to [[Insurance|insure]] the ships of grain merchants who were willing to risk travelling to Egypt in the off-season. He also granted their sailors special privileges, including citizenship and exemption from the [[Lex Papia Poppaea]], a law that regulated marriage. In addition, he repealed the taxes that Caligula had instituted on food, and further reduced taxes on communities suffering drought or [[famine]].

The last part of Claudius's plan to avoid famine was to increase the amount of arable land in Italy. This was to be achieved by draining the [[Fucine lake]], also making the nearby river navigable year-round.{{sfn|Tacitus|loc=XII, 57}}<ref>Gaius Tranquillus Suetonius, Graves, R., & Grant, M. (2006). ''The Twelve Caesars'' (p. 190). Penguin.</ref> A serious famine is mentioned in the [[book of Acts]] as taking place during Claudius' reign, and had been prophesied by a Christian called [[Agabus]] while visiting [[Antioch]].<ref>Acts 11:28 KJV https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page%3AKJV_1772_Oxford_Edition%2C_vol._2.djvu/370</ref>

A tunnel was dug through the lake bed, but the plan was a failure. The tunnel was crooked and not large enough to carry the water, which caused it to back up when opened. The resultant flood washed out a large gladiatorial exhibition held to commemorate the opening, causing Claudius to run for his life along with the other spectators. The draining of the lake continued to present a problem well into the Middle Ages. It was finally achieved by the Prince [[Torlonia]] in the 19th century, producing over {{convert|160000|acre|km2}} of new arable land;{{sfn|Scramuzza|1940|loc=chapter 9, pp. 173–174}} he expanded the [[Tunnels of Claudius|Claudian tunnel]] to three times its original size.