Sweden's private road network requires national coordination

A debate piece argues that Sweden's largest road network, consisting of private roads, is currently the most overlooked. These roads account for 75 percent of the Swedish road network, with some regions like Jämtland and Västernorrland seeing figures as high as 80 to 85 percent.

These roads are vital for forestry, agriculture, and the transport needs of millions of residents, playing a crucial role in societal robustness and preparedness. However, there is currently no centralized state responsibility to develop, support, or coordinate this network. While the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) manages the 18 percent of private roads that receive state subsidies, the majority lacks a governing authority to collect knowledge or drive long-term improvements.

Challenges include increasing transport weights, climate change impacts, and a lack of consistent norms and guidelines. The authors note that expertise in road maintenance is at risk due to generational shifts and that a lack of national statistics makes it difficult to assess road conditions. The proposal is not for the state to take over ownership, but to create a function that coordinates and supports existing road owners, such as land owners and road associations.