Norway faces near‑20 billion‑kr road maintenance shortfall as county roads deteriorate

In 2010, about 17,000 km of national highways were re‑classified as county roads, shifting maintenance responsibility to Norway’s counties. The ensuing funding gap has left the road network in poor condition. In Møre og Romsdal alone, the maintenance backlog on county roads rose from 16.8 billion kr in 2023 to almost 20 billion kr, while county budgets remain strained and state transfers insufficient.

The safety impact is evident: of the seven traffic fatalities recorded nationwide between 4 – 11 July, most occurred on county roads, and trends suggest more deaths in 2026 than in 2025. Critics question the government’s “zero vision” for road safety, asking, “How can we talk about the zero vision when we let the road network decay?” They argue that regardless of which level of government holds responsibility, adequate investment is essential to prevent further loss of life.

Officials are urged to align funding with the ambition of safer roads, noting that the cost of neglect far exceeds the expense of proper maintenance.