During the spring period, A/S “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) has carried out monitoring and necessary maintenance work on forest roads, ensuring that the forest road infrastructure is in good order and fully accessible to the general public and service providers. In response to a query from an active nature walker regarding the brightly coloured signs placed on some forest roads, LVM experts have explained their purpose: they primarily serve as a means of communication between timber truck drivers, but also provide information to other road users.
“To avoid difficulties in turning or passing each other on roads where operational activity is underway, timber truck drivers use brightly coloured signs to inform other truck drivers and forestry machinery of their presence. Green, round traffic signs mean that there are no timber trucks operating on that road, or that timber truck activity does not interfere with the movement of other vehicles. Conversely, the colour red means that a timber truck is working on that road and it is not possible for other vehicles to pass it. In this case, one must wait before the sign until the timber truck has finished its work and left the road. By understanding the meaning of these signs, nature walkers should also be aware that by continuing on the road, they may encounter a timber truck or another large forestry vehicle, and movement along the forest road may be restricted,” explains Jānis Buņķis, Head of Forest Infrastructure Planning at LVM.
It should be noted that the transport of wood products from landings located along various forest roads and driveways is managed not only by LVM but also by other forest owners; the communication and coordination between timber buyers and these hauliers may differ from the procedures implemented by timber truck drivers working on behalf of LVM. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to other unusual markers, such as a simple or brightly painted tree branch sometimes placed in the middle of the road, which warns that a timber truck is operating on that road and it is impossible to pass it.
When travelling along LVM forest roads, one may often encounter log landings where timber is being loaded onto trucks, and at that moment, it may be impossible to drive past that particular spot. In such cases, drivers are urged to show understanding and look for an alternative route or wait until the loading of timber is completed.
LVM reminds visitors that when heading to the forest, you are allowed to park your car in designated pull-offs and passing places; it is forbidden to leave vehicles on LVM forest roads, as it makes it difficult or even completely impossible for timber truck drivers to get past.
Every year, LVM not only carries out various types of seasonal forest road maintenance but also constructs new forest roads. In 2022, 339 km of forest roads were put into operation, and forest road construction projects with a total length of 288 km were approved.