The road network is divided into 80 contract districts. Local contractors are in charge of road maintenance in compliance with the service level specified by the Finnish Transport Agency. Based on their properties, the roads are divided into maintenance classes, and the response times for snow ploughing, for example, vary accordingly.
Paved roads
Paving maintenance includes patching, surfacing or replacing the paving entirely. Deficiencies in the structures may also require structural modernisation of the roads.
The principal reason for the replacement of paving on heavily trafficked roads is rutting. Correspondingly, the main reason for replacing paving on roads in the secondary network is excessive disrepair, unevenness and loss of load-bearing capacity.
Maintenance of the traffic environment
Maintenance of the traffic environment refers to, for example, planting greenery, clearing bushes, general tidiness of rest areas and bus shelters, and cleaning traffic signs. Maintenance of the traffic environment is a major factor in promoting traffic safety and wellbeing.
Maintenance of gravel roads
When compared to paved roads, gravel roads are more vulnerable to heavy traffic loads. In addition, heavy rain, dry summers and ground frost can cause further damage to gravel roads. Despite continuous repairs, weight restrictions are nevertheless necessary on roads subject to frost heaving.
The maintenance of gravel roads has an impact on the condition of surfacing and, thus, on the road user’s driving comfort. Maintenance operations include, for example, reshaping, patching, gravelling and dust binding. The roads are also modified, and surface heaving and minor frost damage repaired.
Maintenance of bridges
Bridge maintenance ensures structural safety and a longer service life. A great many bridges will soon require major renovation.
There are approximately 14,200 bridges on the highways, approximately five per cent of which are in relative disrepair. Weight restrictions have been applied to 180 bridges in poor condition. According to the Finnish Transport Agency's estimate, approximately 7,000 bridges will require major renovation prior to 2020. The number of bridges in disrepair is slowly increasing despite the Finnish Transport Agency's investment in major repairs.
