Landsvägar

Landsvägar is a Swedish term traditionally used to describe rural public roads that connect settlements, farms and forests across the countryside. They form part of the broader road network, typically smaller in scale than national highways and regional main roads, and they serve as essential links for local mobility, agriculture, forestry and tourism. In everyday language, landsväg is still used to refer to country roads, even when not used as an official road category.

In official Swedish road administration, landsväg is not an explicit legal class. The formal framework distinguishes riksväg (national road), länsväg (county road) and kommunal väg (municipal road), with responsibility for maintenance and funding shifting between national, regional and local authorities. Historically, landsvägar were often dirt or gravel and maintained by local communities or parish authorities. Modern development has led to paving and upgrades on many sections, but a large portion of rural routes remain narrow or single-lane and subject to lower speed limits.

Characteristics typically associated with landsvägar include modest traffic volumes, direct access to farms and small communities, and signage that follows standard Swedish road indications. They are important for regional connectivity, rural economy and accessibility, yet pose safety and maintenance challenges due to weather, wear and limited capacity.

Today, landsvägar continue to play a vital role in rural transport, often prioritized in regional planning for sustainable mobility, agricultural logistics and tourism while being integrated with the broader network of national, county and municipal roads.