Every year, Finland spends roughly EUR 1,500 per kilometre on winter road maintenance, whereas the figure in Sweden is some EUR 2,300 and in Norway just under EUR 6,000. In other words, the costs are the lowest in Finland, but the figures are not directly comparable.
“There are only about 10,000 kilometres of state-run roads in Norway, because counties are responsible for the roads with lower classifications. If only the busiest 10,000 kilometres of road network in Finland were included at the same funding level, the spending on winter maintenance could be more or less doubled here as well”, reminds Jarkko Pirinen, Road Maintenance Specialist at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.
There are about 78,000 kilometres of state-owned roads in Finland and about 98,000 in Sweden. The great difference in the funds used by Norway compared to its neighbours is not only caused by the administrative categories of roads but more challenging terrain, for example in mountainous areas, and a larger number of tunnels and bridges that require special measures.
Common challenges, similar prioritisation
The three neighbouring countries have a lot in common, for example in terms of climate and the demands it sets. Winter is often very different in different parts of the country. However, the countries have different approaches to the challenges posed by winter.
“Perhaps the biggest difference between winter maintenance in these countries is that Finland is the only one that always keeps roads open as a principle. In Norway, roads are closed temporarily in challenging conditions, and the website of the local transport agency even has information on how likely it is that any single road will have to be closed based on the weather forecast. The locals are also aware of the risk of roads being closed and are used to it”, Pirinen explains.
Traditionally, Finland has focused the road user’s personal responsibility for safe driving, stipulated in the Road Traffic Act. Due to accelerating climate change, unusually harsh road conditions are occurring more often in Finland as well, forcing drivers to make the ultimate decision on whether it is safe to drive.
Of course, roads can be closed in exceptional cases even in Finland, but the decision is made by the police and not by any other agency. The Swedish model for possible road closures is somewhere between Finland and Norway.
In each of the three countries, the quality requirements for winter road maintenance are eventually quite similar, even though each has its own style. Prioritisation also works in the same way: the busiest road network is taken care of the most.
Change is noticeable but not huge when driving across the border
The bodies responsible for road maintenance in Finland, Sweden and Norway have cooperated more closely in recent years. When the challenges and technical level of winter maintenance are mainly consistent, cooperation can help to find solutions in various situations. Nevertheless, the quality requirements for winter maintenance of roads have not been consciously harmonised in the northern parts of the countries.
“In any case, the quality requirements for cross-border roads are very close between all three countries. Still, you can notice the change when driving from Northern Finland to Sweden, for example, but the difference is not huge. It’s more about the countries’ distinctive styles of doing maintenance”, says Pirinen.
Another factor affecting the safety of winter driving is lighting, and that is where the countries differ. Finland has more illuminated sections than Sweden and Norway, where lighting is more intermittent in many places.
Image: Finland, Sweden and Norway divided into four Köppen climate categories. Although the countries have a lot in common in terms of winter road maintenance, there are some differences in the climate. Finland does not have a temperate oceanic climate, unlike southern Sweden and the coastal areas of Norway. On the other hand, the mountain areas in Norway pose specific challenges to winter road maintenance. (Photo: Wikipedia, compiled by Mikko Malmivuo/Destia)
Some caution is always necessary in northern conditions
There is occasionally feedback from citizens comparing the winter maintenance of roads in Finland with our western neighbours. Grass often seems to be greener on the other side of the border, but the differences are small in reality, especially in relation to the level of funding and other special features of each country.
“If we look at spending, we achieve pretty similar quality at a lower cost compared to Sweden. Still, winter maintenance can never be 100% successful anywhere since conditions can change fast, but measures are taken proactively according to weather forecasts. Especially in the north, both in Finland and in neighbouring countries, you always have to be a little cautious since winter conditions continue throughout the season”, says Pirinen.