LAUSR

Abstract The article aims at evaluating the future development areas of the road building industry, analysing the road building development in Latvia, performing financial analysis of road building companies, and comparing the Latvian road building industry with other Baltic States. National motor roads in Latvia are divided into three groups: state main roads, state regional roads, and state local roads. The article provides a theoretical review of the road building industry in Latvia, including the classification of national roads. The authors analyse the Latvian road building industry, its largest companies, and compare the Latvian road building industry with other Baltic States. Areas of the road building industry in Latvia encompass different aspects, facilitating to improve the road infrastructure and its accessibility, ensuring an efficient and safe transport system, and promoting the development of the national economy. Road building and motor roads are very important for Latvia’s national economy. This has been the case for decades. To facilitate the efficient operation of motor transport, which provides the basis for other industries in the national economy, it is necessary to maintain and develop the network of motor roads properly. The road industry is closely connected to other industries, and, in the opinion of the authors, it fulfils the social function in the most direct way, as roads are used by residents and there is both synergy and cooperation between road networks and socioeconomic factors. Networks of national roads should also be evaluated in view of public interests – whether the roads ensure the well-being of residents and, hence, the development of the region.