Long-term priorities and strategic pathways have been established to improve the quality of Lithuanian national roads
Starting now, the quality of national roads is to be improved by setting long-term priorities and strategic directions. Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis approved the order for establishing Strategic Guidelines for National Road Maintenance and Development for 2022–2035, which were prepared by the Ministry of Transport and Communications together with Lithuanian Road Administration. These Guidelines have been approved following public consultations and review with municipalities and the Government.
“Long-term strategic guidelines for Lithuanian national roads maintenance and development have been drawn up taking into account key communication needs, in view of improving traffic conditions and safety, as well as promoting sustainable mobility. Currently, a significant part of national road network is in poor condition; thus, addressing these issues will require substantial effort and investment. It is important to set a consistent and coordinated course of action based on long-term priorities,” commented Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.
The Strategic Guidelines provide road maintenance and development priorities, objectives, and actions, as well as projects related to the implementation of the Green Deal objectives and promoting innovations. The Minister states that the Guidelines will be an important message to residents, state institutions, municipalities and business representatives planning their activities and investments.
A major part of works planned for roads Via Baltica and A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda is expected to be completed as early as by the end of 2024. Within this period, it is planned to finish reconstructing a Via Baltica road section between Marijampolė and Lithuanian-Polish border into a 4-lane highway, as well as to reconstruct four bridges (South, North, A. Meškinis and a bridge over Kruna River) over the highway A1 along Kaunas before 2025. As the works continue, these roads shall be reconstructed to comply with the requirements that apply to the main TEN-T. The entire Via Baltica Road section that crosses Lithuania is expected to be repaired by 2030.
Due to their poor condition or inconsistency with their traffic intensity, it is also planned to repair the highways A14 Vilnius–Utena, A16 Vilnius–Prienai–Marijampolė, and the local roads No 130 Kaunas–Prienai–Alytus and No 141 Kaunas–Jurbarkas–Šilutė–Klaipėda. As a priority, it is planned to start works on a dangerous highway Vilnius–Utena. By 2024, it is planned to repair a section between Vilnius and Molėtai and to complete reconstructing the entire road by 2025. Kaunas–Prienai section is to be reconstructed in stages from 2024 to 2026.
The aim is to stabilise and substantially improve the condition of national roads and address chronic problems. By 2024, the percentage of inadequate roads in the national road network should decrease at least by 5 percent. By 2030, it is planned to eliminate too narrow roads by reconstructing almost 200 km of national roads with pavement width of less than 5 m. With 5–10 bridges reconstructed each year; it is planned to repair all 73 bridges that are currently in poor condition by 2035.
Besides, by 2035, it is planned to pave at least 1900 km of gravel roads: namely, all roads that upon reconstruction would provide socio-economic benefit, i.e., generating traffic of at least 120 cars per day. The plans involve ensuring that no more than 18 % of gravel roads remain in the national road network. There is also a complementary objective to eliminate national gravel roads in residential areas with traffic intensity higher than 50 cars per day or at least 10 residents by 2024.
The network of pedestrian and bicycle paths will be expanded in Lithuania. Within the period from 2022 to 2035, it is planned to build about 600 km of new paths, increasing the length of bicycle paths in residential areas by 40 %. Additionally, approximately half of the existing paths (around 350 km in total) that are currently in poor condition will be repaired.
It is also expected to continue implementing engineering traffic safety measures and to reconstruct dangerous intersections and pedestrian crossings. It is aimed to entirely replace dangerous pedestrian crossings on national roads by 2024 by reconstructing approx. 1,720 of such crossings. In 2022–2035, it is planned to rebuild around 140 one-level intersections.
With the aim to improve traffic safety, by 2030, it is expected to reduce the number of road fatalities by more than half compared to 2020, i.e., to reduce the annual number of fatalities per 1 million inhabitants from 63 (2020) to a maximum of 30 (2030). This will help reaching Vision 0 target to prevent all fatalities on national roads by 2050.
The Strategic Guidelines also provide a summary of strategic objectives, current situation regarding specific road objects, expected scope of works, and preliminary cost estimations. Planning of investments and ensuring funding will be the cornerstones to implementing these Guidelines.
Last updated: 12-07-2022
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