Even now, every fourth road out of ten no longer meets the requirements of elementary quality, and this causes difficulties not only for the population, but also for the entire economy. This is what municipalities, experts, and economists are talking about, emphasizing that the deteriorating road network results in collapsing bridges, insufficient and unsafe road infrastructure, which scares off investors, especially in the regions.
“The government must increase funding for state roads. The Directorate of Motorways of Lithuania has already openly said that it will no longer implement cooperation agreements signed with municipalities. It won’t be done anymore, because it just doesn’t have the money. This attitude of the state means that the wishes of us, the municipalities, to fix the state roads passing through the settlements as soon as possible are postponed indefinitely, although we are ready to contribute to this even with our own budget funds”, says Klaipėda District Mayor <a href="https://www.archyde.com/it-will-be-brighter-in-the-klaipeda-district-a-contract-has-been-signed-for-the-lighting-of-more-than-90-streets/" title="It will be brighter in the Klaipėda district: a contract has been signed for the lighting of more than 90 streets”>Bronius Markauskas.
And this is not only a problem of Klaipėda district. It is faced by all, and especially ring, municipalities through which transit roads with large traffic flows pass. Therefore, the Klaipėda district initiated the resolution and together with the municipalities of Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Alytus and Šiauliai districts, urges the Government and the Seimas, when forming next year’s state budget, to make decisive decisions on increasing funding for the country’s roads.
Until now, in the Klaipėda district, in cooperation with the Directorate of Motor Roads of Lithuania, only the Kretinga highway in Gargždai, Klaipėda and Žalgiris streets in Priekulė have been reconstructed, but Ežero street in Sendvary, Klaipėdos street in Kretingalė and other contracts with the Directorate of Roads will probably continue to lie in the drawer, because until even in next year’s state budget draft, no more additional funds are allocated for state roads.
“What does that mean?” After all, the fact that the problems that have not been solved for many years, for which we had already hoped to find a solution after concluding cooperation agreements and allocating our own funds, will continue due to the fact that the Government does not allocate funding for it. This is not only the unjustified expectations of all of us, but also a failure to comply with obligations, and most importantly, one of the main streets of the district will continue to remain without decent asphalt, sidewalks, lighting, crossings. Another proof that regional problems are difficult to see from the Government House”, thinks Bronius Markauskas.
The resolution also draws attention to the fact that funding for state roads is not increased, although the Ministry of Transport’s own strategic goal is to reduce the road network in poor condition by almost three times over the next decade – up to 15 percent. Municipalities believe that this goal will remain on paper, because even the Directorate of Motorways of Lithuania emphasizes that in order for the road network to at least not deteriorate, an additional 400 million must be allocated to the existing funding next year. euros. However, at least for now, their wishes are not heard in the Government.
“It is truly incomprehensible how it is possible not to understand that funding for increasing the road infrastructure is necessary, because otherwise the state of the country’s roads will only worsen and require more and more investments every year. Once upon a time we used to make fun of our Polish neighbors because of their roads, but now we only have to look enviously and listen to jokes about the roads of our country”, says Klaipėda District Mayor Bronius Markauskas.
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#municipalities #Government #increase #funding #state #roads
2024-09-12 11:27:53
Table of Contents
Lithuania’s Road Network Crisis: Deteriorating Infrastructure and Economic Consequences
Lithuania’s road network is facing a crisis, with every fourth road out of ten no longer meeting the requirements of elementary quality. This dire situation is causing difficulties not only for the population but also for the entire economy. The deteriorating road network has resulted in collapsing bridges, insufficient and unsafe road infrastructure, which is scaring off investors, especially in the regions.
The total length of Lithuania’s road network is approximately 84,000 km, with national, local, and urban roads making up the network [[1]]. However, the current state of the roads is far from satisfactory, with a significant portion of them being in poor condition. This has led to concerns among municipalities, experts, and economists, who emphasize that the situation will only worsen if not addressed promptly.
The Directorate of Motorways of Lithuania has already stated that it will no longer implement cooperation agreements signed with municipalities due to a lack of funding [[2]]. This means that the wishes of municipalities to fix state roads passing through their settlements will be postponed indefinitely, despite their readiness to contribute to the process with their own budget funds.
The situation is not unique to Klaipėda district, but is faced by all, and especially ring, municipalities through which transit roads with large traffic flows pass. The resolution initiated by Klaipėda district, in collaboration with other municipalities, urges the Government and the Seimas to make decisive decisions on increasing funding for the country’s roads when forming the next year’s state budget.
Despite the Ministry of Transport’s strategic goal to reduce the road network in poor condition by almost three times over the next decade – up to 15 percent – funding for state roads is not being increased [[3]]. Municipalities believe that this goal will remain on paper unless additional funds are allocated to support the road infrastructure. In fact, the Directorate of Motorways of Lithuania emphasizes that an additional 400 million euros must be allocated to the existing funding next year to prevent the road network from deteriorating further.
The consequences of not addressing this issue will be far-reaching. The deteriorating road network will continue to worsen, requiring more and more investments every year. Moreover, it will negatively impact the economy, as investors are deterred by the poor state of the roads. It is, therefore, imperative that the Government takes decisive action to allocate sufficient funding for state roads and address the crisis facing Lithuania’s road network.
Lithuania’s road network is in a state of crisis, with far-reaching consequences for the population and the economy. It is essential that the Government and the Seimas take immediate action to address this issue by increasing funding for state roads and supporting the development of a safe and efficient road infrastructure.
References:
The State of Lithuania’s Roads: A Call to Action for Increased Funding
Lithuania, a country located in the Baltic region, faces a significant challenge when it comes to the state of its roads. With every fourth road out of ten no longer meeting the requirements of elementary quality, the country’s economy and population are suffering as a result. The deteriorating road network leads to collapsing bridges, insufficient and unsafe road infrastructure, which in turn scares off investors, particularly in the regions [[1]].
The road network in Lithuania is vast, with a total length of 84,000 km, divided into national, local, and urban roads [[3]]. However, the current state of the roads is a major concern, with many municipalities and experts calling for increased funding to address the issue. The Directorate of Motorways of Lithuania has stated that it will no longer implement cooperation agreements signed with municipalities due to a lack of funds, which means that many road projects will be put on hold indefinitely [[1]].
Municipalities, led by Klaipėda District Mayor Bronius Markauskas, are urging the Government and the Seimas to make decisive decisions on increasing funding for the country’s roads when forming next year’s state budget [[1]]. The Klaipėda district has initiated a resolution, joined by other municipalities, including Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Alytus, and Šiauliai districts, to pressure the Government to take action.
The situation is not unique to Klaipėda district, as many municipalities face similar challenges. Transit roads with large traffic flows pass through these areas, making it essential to invest in the road infrastructure to ensure the country’s economic growth and development [[1]].
The Ministry of Transport’s strategic goal is to reduce the road network in poor condition by almost three times over the next decade, up to 15 percent [[1]]. However, this goal is unlikely to be achieved without a significant increase in funding. The Directorate of Motorways of Lithuania emphasizes that an additional 400 million euros must be allocated to the existing funding next year to prevent the road network from deteriorating further [[1]].
Lithuania’s road network is a critical component of its economy, and the current state of disrepair is having a negative impact on the country’s growth and development. It is essential that the Government takes decisive action to increase funding for the country’s roads to improve the overall infrastructure, attract investors, and enhance the overall quality of life for its citizens.
As Lithuania is crossed by two Trans-European Network (TEN) corridors, including Corridor I, which consists of highway VIA BALTICA and rail line RAIL, the country’s road infrastructure is not only important for domestic growth but also for international connectivity and trade [[2]].
the state of Lithuania’s roads is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and action from the Government. Increasing funding for the country’s roads is essential to address the current challenges, improve the overall infrastructure, and drive economic growth and development. It is time for the Government to take decisive action to ensure that Lithuania’s road network meets the demands of its citizens and supports the country’s economic aspirations.
References:
