Riksvägar

Riksvägar are a category within Sweden’s road system designated as national roads. They form part of the national road network governed by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket). Historically, riksvägar served as the main long-distance routes connecting major cities, ports and border areas. In contemporary planning, the term is primarily a classification used for planning and signage, and many routes have, or will have, been reclassified as länsvägar (county roads) when administration shifted to the counties. Some riksvägar remain under national control and continue to be prioritized in national transport planning.

Numbers and signage: riksvägar are identified by numbers, commonly written with a prefix that denotes the category (for example, Rv followed by a number). The actual road standard varies: sections may be two-lane rural roads, while others are multi-lane urban arterials. Some riksvägar overlap with the European road network, carrying E-route designations on maps and signage where applicable.

Role and governance: Trafikverket retains responsibility for the most strategically important segments—such as routes that form international corridors or link major ports—while many former riksvägar have been reclassified to länsvägar under county administration. In recent decades, investments have aimed to improve safety and capacity, including upgrading selected sections to motorway or expressway standards.

Overall, riksvägar represent Sweden’s historical and ongoing approach to maintaining a coherent national backbone for road transport, even as administrative boundaries and road standards evolve.