Residents of the South Kurzeme region are complaining about the condition of the regional road P114, where, in addition to potholes and mud, old logs have begun to emerge on the surface. Latvijas Valsts ceļi acknowledges the poor condition of the road but considers the section not a priority for serious repairs.
The regional road P114 in the vicinity of Priekule has become one of the main issues for local residents. In certain areas, logs have been pushed out from the lower layers of the gravel surface, and the road itself is covered with potholes, subsidence, and what is known as a 'washboard' surface.
The crew from the Bez Tabu program (TV3) met with local resident Andris near the village of Krote in the South Kurzeme region. According to him, the road has been in poor condition for a long time, and after rain, the situation worsens — mud and deep irregularities appear.
Particular attention was drawn to the logs that are literally protruding from the road surface in some places.
Victor Kharitonov, an associate professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Riga Technical University, believes that such structures may have been used as a temporary reinforcement for the road's foundation. However, he stated that this does not mean they should remain on the surface for years.
The expert warns that such road conditions can pose serious risks to traffic safety — especially for motorcyclists, cyclists, and vehicles traveling at higher speeds.
The South Kurzeme municipality acknowledges that the problem has been known for a long time, but they remind that the road is state-owned, not municipal.
The executive director of the municipality, Edgar Bertrams, stated that local authorities do not have the authority to maintain such roads independently.
Latvijas Valsts ceļi, on the other hand, maintains a more measured assessment of the situation. The company stated that the logs were likely used at one time to reinforce the road's foundation, and that in June, plans are in place to address the subsidence with new gravel covering and remove the protruding elements. At the same time, LVC does not believe that the logs currently pose an immediate threat to traffic safety.
The state enterprise also emphasizes that the traffic intensity in this area remains low — less than 300 vehicles per day. This is why the road is not currently among the priority projects for major repairs.
For local residents, this means that significant restoration of the road is not expected in the near future.
The history of road P114 once again highlights the problem of many regional roads in Latvia: even with obvious wear and complaints from residents, major works are often postponed due to low traffic intensity and limited funding.
