“Road maintenance” announces annual performance results: planned innovations

“Road maintenance” revenue grew by almost 11% last year, according to annual performance results. It is reported that although the company ended the year in a profitable way, the operations over the past few years still remain unprofitable. It is estimated that by continuing to apply complex operational solutions and following the strategic operational plan, the company should be able to cancel the accumulated past loss and pay dividends to the state already next year.

According to the general director dr. Audriaus Vaitkaus, the year has passed for the company there were real challenges, as road surfaces of national importance require more and more repair work in the warm season, and in winter, an emergency situation on the roads was repeatedly declared due to the circumstances that arose.

Innovations in road maintenance activities

The last year’s winter season started with the application of updated road maintenance solutions in the company. For example, on the highest maintenance four-lane roads, snow removal and the application of snow and ice-dissolving materials were carried out by two machines running in parallel, thus following the best practices of other countries. In the second lane, which is dominated by lower traffic intensity, a larger amount of ice and snow melting substances is released. In this way, the conditions of the condition of the pavement in both the first and the second traffic lane are unified and even greater road safety is ensured.

In addition, new reaction scenarios, operational improvements are identified, after critical periods when particularly difficult conditions prevailed, a “day’s photo” evaluation of the completed works is carried out. More attention is paid to preventive works – even before the formation of a dangerous natural phenomenon.

The company is also actively preparing solutions for the repair of pedestrian crossings, which will implement the vision of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Lithuania and Via Lietuva AB to improve the traffic safety of vulnerable road users on Lithuanian roads.

“The second half of the year is unique as a period of searching for new, more efficient solutions. Participated in more than one discussion and decision-making, which especially touched the issues of maintenance and repair of bridges, permanent and periodic maintenance. A lot of attention is focused on finding solutions to improve traffic safety,” says the company’s CEO.

General Director of Road Maintenance AB, dr. Audrius Vaitkus. Road maintenance photo.

Among the prioritiesefficiency and safety

According to A. Vaitkaus, the company has installed over 20 information systems to increase operational efficiency. Some of them are intended for performing administrative functions, the other part for road maintenance activities. It is precisely because of the latter that even 63% more various road violations or traffic obstacles were recorded and fixed last year than in 2022.

“We have successfully developed IT solutions, among which we should mention an innovation that both facilitated daily work and improved their quality – a new principle of work planning, when the tasks of mechanically mowing grass on roadsides and road embankment slopes began to be formed with the help of an active map”, shared A. Vaitkus.

According to him, this is an updated work planning system adapted to the needs of employees, which realistically calculates the required work duration, taking into account the road network and the technical parameters of the mechanisms used.

Additional attention in the company is also devoted to ensuring the safety of people working on the roads. More than 10 additional shock absorbers are planned to be purchased this year alone. Thanks to one of the used shock absorbers, the lives of road users and road users have already been saved in the summer. According to the general director of the company, it is aimed that all dangerous works on the roads with the highest traffic intensity are performed using additional safety measures.

Responding to the shareholder’s expectation regarding the diversification of activities, other activities are being developed in “Road Maintenance”. The activities of horizontal road marking, street and road electrical maintenance works continue successfully, the first maintenance and repair works of electric car charging accesses have been implemented. Significant results have been achieved in the sector of communications design and geodetic services.

Investments in sustainable solutions

In 2023, the company recorded 8.8% lower electricity consumption and almost 12% lower consumption of natural gas and central heating. In order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, to contribute to the mitigation of climate change and to increase energy efficiency, AB “Kelių berža” continues to invest in solar power plants.

According to the company’s general director, a new 200 kW solar power plant started operating last year, which provides the internal electricity needs of the Road Maintenance Management Center, the Southern Region, the Kaunas Road Service and the master’s administrative and production buildings, as well as the premises of the Transport and Technical Service.

AB “Road maintenance” develops its activities throughout Lithuania and is committed to customers, society, shareholders and employees. Understanding the expectations of customers and society, the impact of our activities on the quality of residents’ travel and our own responsibility, we strive to find sustainable solutions that combine environmental, social and economic aspects,” says Dr. A. Vaitkus.

It should be noted that the main activity of AB “Kelia berža” is the maintenance of roads of state importance under the contract administered by AB “Via Lietuva”. The maintenance of these roads is carried out in accordance with the Road Maintenance Manual, which regulates the quality of road maintenance, works and their value. Fulfillment of maintenance standards, especially in the cold period of the year and in spring, when the type, abundance and intensity of climatic phenomena cannot be predicted, requires great efforts of the Company both in cleaning and spreading the roads, and in ensuring the timely acquisition of necessary materials.

With the annual report of Road Maintenance welcome to get acquainted here.