Vegnettet

Vegnettet is the total network of public roads in Norway, though the term can be used in other Scandinavian languages to denote a country’s road system. It includes highways, national roads, county roads, and municipal roads, together with the infrastructure that supports road transport such as bridges, tunnels, signs, and traffic control devices. The network enables passenger travel, freight movement, and regional connectivity, linking urban centers with rural areas and underpinning economic and social life.

Responsibility for vegnettet is shared among national, regional, and local authorities. In Norway, the Statens vegvesen administers national roads, while counties manage county roads and municipalities handle local roads. Planning and investment follow a hierarchy of national transport plans, regional development plans, and municipality plans. Standards for construction, safety, and operation align with national regulations and European guidelines.

Funding for road infrastructure comes from government budgets, with additional sources such as tolls on selected motorways and municipal contributions. Large-scale upgrades and new constructions are typically planned in multi-year programs, balancing capacity, safety, and maintenance needs.

Data collection on traffic volumes, road conditions, and safety informs network management and planning. The vegnettet is increasingly integrated with digital traffic management, early-warning systems, and ITS to improve efficiency and information access for users. Climate and geography influence maintenance strategies, with seasonal snow removal, road winterization, and resilience to extreme weather being ongoing considerations.