Latvia’s state road network currently stretches 19,823 kilometres, of which roughly 6,000 kilometres no longer meet the criteria for state roads, the chairman of the board of Latvijas Valsts ceļi (LVC), Mārtiņš Lazdovskis, told LETA in an interview.
“This type of road network, with three different categories, is very specific and typical for the Baltic states. Nowhere else do you really see anything like it,” Lazdovskis noted, adding that, for example, Austria’s state road network is only 2,400 kilometres long.
He explained that the total length of state roads managed by LVC is 19,823 kilometres: 1,676 km are main state roads, 5,463 km are regional roads and 12,684 km are local state roads.
Lazdovskis also pointed out that LVC transfers certain road sections to municipalities every year — around 40–50 kilometres annually. These are roads with the lowest traffic intensity, in which LVC does not plan to invest in the coming years. “However, from the perspective of local governments, these are certainly not low-intensity roads,” he added.
He stressed that around 6,000 kilometres no longer fit the definition of a state road at all.
Lazdovskis reminded that the State Roads Law was created at a time when Latvia had over 487 parishes, and a state road was defined as any road connecting two neighbouring parishes.
“Today, the number of municipalities is ten times smaller, so there is now a large portion of state roads that lie entirely within a single municipality and do not cross municipal borders. They therefore no longer meet the definition of a state road. These roads serve the typical function of municipal roads,” Lazdovskis explained.
Commenting on whether the state road network should be reduced, he said that this discussion is unavoidable and must take place.
He also emphasised that reducing the network would amount to systemic restructuring, allowing each owner to clearly see what roads they have and their condition — particularly because the state does not plan to invest in those 6,000 kilometres. “For comparison, if the municipal earmarked grant for one kilometre is around €800, the state transfers roughly €1,600 along with the roads. That means that for the roads handed over from the state, the funding provided for maintenance is double the average municipal grant,” Lazdovskis added.
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