Enhancing the Assessment of Winter Road Maintenance Levels with Respect to Road Safety in Lithuania

Winter road maintenance levels are currently determined based on criteria with weights that have not yet been scientifically validated in Lithuania. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing global practices related to winter road maintenance levels and their determination methods. A survey of experts was conducted to expand and refine the list of criteria that significantly influence road winter maintenance decisions. Based on expert consensus, the weights for these criteria were calculated. Using this indicator system, an expert assessment of the road winter maintenance levels was performed for selected road sections of the road network. This study proposes a scientifically grounded methodology to determine winter road maintenance levels, which can be applied to all national road networks. Furthermore, the methodology incorporates elements of road safety, emphasizing the need for winter road maintenance not only to improve infrastructure but also to reduce accident risks. This study revealed that the proposed methodology, which was validated through a Lithuanian case study in the Raseiniai Northern District, effectively assesses winter road maintenance levels by combining road safety factors with a multi-criteria evaluation. This thorough approach not only increases road safety but also improves traffic flow, showcasing its potential for wider application in national road networks.