Hadrian's road from Antinoopolis to the Red Sea was intended to put the town on the map, economically, by establishing a rival to the main trade route along the Wadi Hammamat, the popular (and critical) trade route to Arabia and beyond.
According to some, it did put a dent in the rival. See page 35 here...
http://assets.cambridge.org/052147/1370/sample/0521471370web.pdf
Thanks.