The Lithuanian Road Administration has started preparatory work for reconstruction of the Vilnius-Utena highway, the A14.
A report by Rusradio LT said that Marius Skuodis, the transport minister, made the announcement and that reconstruction work would officially begin in 2023.
Skuodis reportedly said the highway, which is Lithuania's only highway with a concrete surface, is a "disgrace" to the nation. The A14 connects Vilnus and Utena, running for nearly 96km. Several years ago, a 6km section north of the capital city Vilnius was upgraded to four lanes with improved traffic lights and junctions.
The greater metropolitan area of Vilnius has a population of over 700,000. Utena, in northeastern Lithuania, has a population of around 28,000 and is the country’s 8th largest city. It recorded the lowest temperature ever in Lithuania, officially -42.9C in 1956.
The existing highway was built over 80 years ago and is one of the worst maintained roads in the country, according to report by law firm BNT in 2016, based in Vilnius.
Lithuania has also been working upgrading the E67 Via Baltica highway connecting Lithuania with neighbouring Poland.
