The just published report tells about the impact of roads on society's success and how improving roads can support Finland in the midst of a crisis.
The road network is a platform for road traffic, but also a significant cost factor for export industry and trade logistics and thus a challenge to Finland's competitiveness.
Getting the infrastructure in good condition has a significant positive multiplier effect on the economy, because a high-quality road network reduces transport costs and improves the functioning of society as a whole. This is evident from the report, which opens up the importance of roads for Finnish society.
"The importance of a well-maintained road network in reducing traffic emissions should be recognized. Detours increase fuel consumption and emissions. Improving the condition of roads reduces road traffic emissions by up to five percent," emphasizes Metsäteollisuus ry's logistics manager Outi Nietola.
"The transport costs of the forest industry are increased by an estimated seven percent due to the poor condition of the lower road network and weight-restricted bridges," he continues.
Also the CEO of Koneyrittäjai Matti Peltola reminds that the supply of raw materials in the energy and forestry industry requires that, first of all, the bottlenecks for the transport of raw materials and work machines caused by the weight restrictions of the lower road network and especially its bridges are eliminated.
The Finnish road is always made in Finland - investments have a significant economic impact
The road network is a good investment target in all economic situations, because it affects competitiveness. In a weak economic situation, quick effects are obtained both directly and indirectly, when the improvement of the road network employs SMEs all over the country. As the quality of the network improves, there are constant savings as transportation becomes more efficient.
"There are many road projects in Finland that can be started quickly and done more cheaply now than a year ago. The key would be to focus on basic road maintenance in all road categories and at the same time start the planning of larger investments", CEO of INFRA ry Paavo Syrjö ponders.
Now is not the right moment to put the brakes on the road infrastructure machinery, but it is wise to turn the infrastructure lever upwards towards a high-quality road network. This ensures competitiveness in the coming years.
"It is good to remember that Finnish roads are always made in Finland and for the needs of Finnish society. Now is the time to fix society's most important transportation platform, i.e. the roads," CEO of the Finnish Road Society Nina Raitanen seal.
The Towards a high-quality road network report was carried out by WSP Finland Oy on behalf of INFRA ry, Koneyrittäjät ry, Metsäteollisuus ry and Suomen Tieyhdistys ry. The working group included the director, professor Jorma Mäntynen, doctor of technology Jarkko Rantala and master's engineers Riku Huhta & Riina Isola. The report has been published on the Road Association's website.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- CEO Nina Raitanen, Suomen Tieyhdistys ry
first name.surname(a)tieyhdistys.fi, 040 7442 996 - Logistics manager Outi Nietola, Metsäteollisuus ry
first name.surname(a)forestindustries.fi, 040 194 4776 - CEO Paavo Syrjö, INFRA ry
first name.surname(a)infra.fi, 040 560 1803 - CEO Matti Peltola, Koneyrittäjät ry
first name.surname(a)koneyrittajat.fi, 040 900 9412