Equipped to build a road around me (5)
I believe the answer is:
armed
'equipped' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'a road around me' is the wordplay.
'road' becomes 'rd' (abbreviation).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'rd' going around 'me' is 'rmed'.
'a'+'rmed'='ARMED'
'to build' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for armed that I've seen before include "brachiate?" , "unlike the Venus of Milo" , "ready to fight" , "Prepared for battle" , "Tooled up" .)