I used to have a 1930s map of London and environs marking all roads by surface type. By far the most common surface was wooden planks. Great old map, on cloth, the original owner had written his address on the back in nice curling handwriting and he was ''chauffeur to...''.
Anyway, roads are also being made of recycled plastic bottles too. I've ridden on such a road and it was indistinguishable from normal tarmac in that respect. I'm not sure exactly how the plastics were used though.