dreadknought
timelord
Very interesting. It was not intentional, but it was an oversight on my part. I will need to add in the Via Appia into the Improvement XML so that it maintains or grants some kind of bonus.
Thats a fairly easy XML change which is gone, because my next update will only be from the XML folder. It will be fairly small, around 10 megabytes, but will have many changes such as the one you pointed out.
It should not break saves, but I cannot guarantee it. It won't be out for another couple of weeks, but I will make sure the Via Appia road system is added in.
Thanks for the spot!

added
A little later I built my first galleons and and it struck me that appearing so large and grand should they have a bit more str., was thinking 5 at least or some bonus against the smaller ships around at that time, I also read the civapedia entry that said some were fitted as warships by some civs.