as a MC I agree with you, lets make way to enemy's zone more easy n fast.
make it wide n short, better we make a shortcut that no one will notice our coming.
but
as an elfs they think that road is already fine, or please make it hard to pass, make it narrow as possible, long as possible, n hard to pass as possible.
so make it more hard for MC to pass it !
lets have fun on journey at the enemy zone.