The number of poorly maintained road bridges and intersection ramps has surged over the last five years, according to the latest statistics from the Finnish Transport Agency (FTIA).
Finland is home to over 15,000 bridges, with 860 currently in poor condition — a figure that has shot up by about 85 percent over the past decade, according to FTIA.
In Central Finland which has about 1,000 bridges, the situation is even more severe. The number of bridges in poor condition is growing at a rate of about ten per year in the region, according to Jari Mikkonen, bridge engineer and head of the unit at the region's Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre).
"There are currently about 80 bridges in poor condition in Central Finland, but in a couple of years there will be more than 100," he said.
Slow repair rate
According to Mikkonen, despite the tight fiscal situation, bridges can be renovated on time, as all bridges in Finland are inspected every five years.
"This allows us to identify areas that need immediate repair," he said.
However, Mikkonen warns that at the current repair rate, the situation is unlikely to improve; instead, the number of bridges in poor condition is expected to rise.
Many bridges have deteriorated from good to satisfactory — classified as the third condition level. While these bridges do not yet require repairs, their condition will inevitably decline, making renovation only a matter of time.
"The number of bridges in satisfactory condition has increased significantly. This indicates that repair needs will be even greater in the future," Mikkonen said.
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