The Lithuanian government has tentatively agreed to allocate an extra 157 million euros for roads next year as some politicians, road workers and the presidential office propose suggest allocating more money for roads in the 2024 state budget.
The extra funding would be allocated to two projects – the reconstruction of the Vilnius-Utena road and the Via Baltica section from Marijampole to the Polish border, ministers agreed at an informal meeting on Monday, the Transport and Communications Ministry told to BNS.
The final decision will be made by the government on Wednesday, and it will then be submitted to the Seimas.
The reconstruction of the Vilnius-Utena road would cost an additional 40 million euros, and the money is expected to come from an increase in the heavy vehicle toll (vignettes).
In addition, ministers agreed to step up EU investment in strategic road projects, in particular the Via Baltica section from Marijampole to the Polish border, which would receive an additional 117 million euros next year, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste told BNS on Monday.
So far, EU funding for roads has been set at 41.8 million euros euros.
Last week, the parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance Committee proposed to the government to consider allocating additional funding for the Road Maintenance and Development Program in the 2024 state budget.
Initially, next year’s draft state budget earmarked 715.5 million euros for roads from three sources, and the amount will now go up to 872 million euros.
Source: BNS
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