The construction of a street never opened to traffic. The extraordinary discovery of pavement engineering in vicolo dei Balconi of Pompeii

•The new excavation in Regio V discovered the pavement construction site of vicolo de Balconi.•A cross-disciplinary approach was adopted to analyze the archeological excavation.•The surface texture of flagstones was assessed with photogrammetry and skid resistance tests.•Penetrometric and deflectometric tests were used to study the subgrade structure.•A possible succession of paving works in this part of the city using lava stone is recognized.