Italian to English Tech/Engineering Archaeology

Il piano stradale venne ricavato in trincea, aggirando lo sperone della montagna e praticando, per un lungo tratto di quasi 200 m, dei tagli sulla parete rocciosa, ottenuti con piccone, mazza e scalpello per un’altezza di 10-12 m.

This tourist brochure about the Gola del Furlo is talking about the first road built through the gorge.

This is my attempt but not sure if I have the correct technical word for IN TRINCEA. I could use 'in a cutting' but it doesn't seem to make much sense.

The roadway was dug-out like a trench, bypassing the spur of the mountain for a long stretch of nearly 200m, by making cuts in the rock wall with a pick, mallet and chisel at a height of 10-12 m.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!