Forest roads, 2006

Winter roads and tractor roads

Winter and tractor roads are built to a lower standard than the all-year roads and summer roads. In total, 234 kilometres of new winter and tractor roads were built and 55 kilometres were rebuilt in 2006.

Expenses

Total costs for construction and reconstruction of forest roads amounted to NOK 85 million in 2006. Government subsidies accounted for NOK 30 million. The average expenditure was NOK 204 per metre of all-year roads and summer roads and NOK 98 per metre of for winter roads and tractor roads.

Many forest roads

Although there is little construction of new forest roads, the total length of such roads in Norway is extensive. 48 400 kilometre of forest road for lorries was registered at the end of 2006. In comparison, the total length of public roads in Norway is 93 000 kilometres.

The main purpose of forest roads is to provide access to forest areas and make felling and transportation of timber easier and cheaper. Consequently, the total forest road length depends on the total amount of timber in an area and the density varies considerably from region to region. In the eastern part of Norway and in Aust-Agder and Trøndelag counties there is between 0.6 and 1.1 kilometre of forest road per square kilometre productive forest area. In the rest of the country, the density is between 0.1 and 0.4.

Tables:

• Table 1 Forest roads constructed and rebuilt. Number of roads and length, by county
• Table 2 Forest roads constructed and rebuilt. Expenditure, by county. NOK 1 000
• Table 3 Average expenditure for forest road constructions. 1990-2006. NOK per metre
• Table 4 Whole-year roads and summer roads for lorries. Total road length