I have visited this road (Via Aurelia north of Pisa) this summer. It was Sunday (19th August 2012), the hottest weekend of the year and there still was lots of traffic on this road. Not much going on. I saw one older full-figured woman standing right in the bushes besides the road behind the road barrier. It was simply impossible to stop there. And besides – her looks made me want to hit the gas pedal hard and get out of there (which I did).
So I can confirm that Via Aurelia is still active (in summer 2012), but it looks like a very desperate and desolate place. It is very difficult to pick-up women there.