Faroe Islands seeks special funding to address national road maintenance backlog

The Faroese government will require special funding to address the growing maintenance backlog for national roads, tunnels, bridges, and ferries, transport minister Jacob Vestergaard told parliament on Tuesday.

Responding to a query from MP Grímur Sundstein, Vestergaard confirmed that additional allocations will be necessary to halt further deterioration of infrastructure. “A special grant will be unavoidable,” he stated, adding that he hopes for broad political agreement to secure road maintenance funding in the coming years.

One potential solution under consideration is a dedicated infrastructure law to be presented to the Løgting (Faroese parliament). According to the Faroese Road Administration’s 2018–2030 transport plan, the maintenance backlog has reached 375 million Danish kroner.

A recent survey by the Road Administration found that roughly 100 kilometres of national roads require resurfacing, while 20 bridges are in poor condition and need structural repairs. Among the most critical is Streymin Bridge, where inspection work began this month and will continue through June. Motorists and mariners are advised to exercise caution, as the bridge’s clearance will be reduced by about five metres during the inspection period.