Amid funding shortages, the state-owned company VSIA Latvian State Roads (LVC) is currently commissioning new road reconstruction projects only for locally critical road sections, LVC Construction Department Director Gints Alberiņš said on Thursday at the company’s annual Latvian road sector conference.
According to him, these are sections where the road condition already threatens passability. In all other sections, full reconstruction is being replaced with pavement renewal.
Alberiņš explained that when renewing pavement, the warranty period for the road will be only three years. He added that potholes on such roads are likely to begin appearing after 10–12 years, but cracks will emerge as early as three years.
“To some extent, this is an inefficient use of resources, but under current funding conditions, it is the most effective way to slightly improve road conditions,” Alberiņš said.
He also noted that the volume of pavement renewal will decrease significantly. For example, this year it is planned to renew asphalt pavement on 176 kilometres of roads, while 165 kilometres will undergo surface treatment. Additionally,
gravel road surfaces are planned to be renewed on 119 kilometres, with 65 kilometres to receive double surface treatment.
By contrast, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when additional funding was allocated for road construction, asphalt pavement renewal reached approximately 600 kilometres per year for two consecutive years.
Alberiņš further informed that this year LVC has commissioned two road reconstruction projects, six pedestrian and cycling infrastructure projects, and eight traffic safety improvement projects.
At the same time, he warned that as European Union funding begins to decline, the number of traffic safety and micromobility projects will also decrease.
LVC was established at the end of 2004 and is fully state-owned. The company manages the national road network, administers its funding, and organizes public procurement for state needs. LVC oversees more than 20,000 kilometres of national roads.
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