Billions Needed to Repair Norwegian Roads. The State Provides Only a Small Fraction

Over the past three years, the government has allocated less than NOK 1 billion annually for landslide protection, despite a slight increase in spending for 2023–2025. Rising construction costs and inflation have absorbed a significant portion of the funds. As a result, resources are distributed in a scattered manner and are often insufficient to meet the needs of the largest counties.

NAF emphasizes that at the current funding level, many regions receive amounts that are far too small. County authorities have no real chance to improve safety.

The greatest need for investment is in Vestland, where it is estimated that more than NOK 24 billion is required for protective measures. Last year, the county received NOK 452 million from the general funding budget. Troms received NOK 100 million, while the estimated need is NOK 14.2 billion.

Other counties, such as Finnmark and Rogaland, are also among the regions with multi-billion needs. NAF proposes that funds for protective measures should be strictly earmarked, rather than included in the general county budget, to increase transparency and the effectiveness of fund allocation.

Climate change and increased extreme rainfall may raise the frequency and scale of landslides. With roads becoming more exposed to weather conditions, significantly greater preventive efforts will be necessary. Only prioritized and adequate funding could improve the state of municipal road networks and reduce risks for residents and infrastructure.