Forest roads, 2002

In 2002, 189 kilometres of new whole-year roads for lorries were built, which is 13 kilometres more than the year before. More winter roads for lorries and roads for tractors were built. Totally 605 kilometres were built, 135 kilometres more than in 2001.

Most new building in Telemark

There has been a large increase in new construction of whole- year roads in the county of Telemark. Totally 46 kilometres of this kind of roads were built in 2002, an increase of 31 kilometres from the previous year. Winter roads for lorries and roads for tractors showed an increase of 36 kilometres. Increased newbuilding was also registered in Hordaland and Nord-Trøndelag. In the other counties the changes were smaller.

More reconstruction than new construction

Since 1993 more kilometres of roads have been rebuilt than newly built. It has been necessary to maintain some of the older roads, and upgrade the road standard. In 2002, 500 kilometres of whole year roads and 59 kilometres of winter roads and roads for tractors were rebuilt.

Increased expenses

The total costs for construction and reconstruction amounted to NOK 185 million in 2002, an increase of NOK 37 million from 2001. The road construction expenditures are divided between NOK 137 million for whole-years roads for lorries and NOK 48 million for winter roads for lorries and roads for tractors. Government subsidies and loans covered NOK 69 million of the costs, and the remaining NOK 116 million were covered by the owners.

Tables:

• Table 1 Forest roads constructed and rebuilt. Number of roads and lenght, by county and way of financing
• Table 2 Forest roads constructed and rebuilt. Expenditure, by county and way of financing