Latvia's State Forests works to repair roads damaged by August storm
Following August's storm and the heavy rain that followed, sections of Latvia's forest roads remain damaged or inaccessible, with state forestry company LVM gradually restoring access based on priority.
Forest roads in Latvia serve more than the timber industry — they lead to workplaces, rural homes, and popular mushroom- and berry-picking spots. After August's storm, followed by heavy rainfall, many familiar routes have become impassable, blocked by fallen trees or washed-out sections of roadway.
As crews clear roads of trees and other debris, previously hidden damage often comes to light beneath the road surface or along its edges. As a result, the actual scope of repair work frequently turns out larger than it first appeared right after the storm.
State forestry company "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM) is currently at different stages of recovery across its territory — some areas remain inaccessible, while repair work is already well underway elsewhere. Kristīne Ansone, director of LVM's "Land Depths and Infrastructure" business division, explains that the order of repairs is set according to priority, weighing how important a given road is both for economic activity and for local residents.
Ansone points out that a road's condition doesn't depend solely on its surface — ditches and culverts, which channel water away, play a major role too. If these drainage systems are clogged or damaged, a road can flood again even after visible damage has already been repaired.
For those heading into the forest to pick mushrooms or berries this autumn, LVM advises being prepared for the possibility that some familiar routes may be closed or difficult to access, and recommends checking on the accessibility of a specific area before setting out.
