Guntars Bartkevičs, a farmer from the Balvi Municipality in Latvia, has expressed concerns about the poor condition of local gravel roads that have suffered damage from increased vehicular traffic associated with border infrastructure construction. He highlighted that these roads, previously passable by ordinary cars at normal speeds, are now muddy, pothole-ridden, and have deep ruts, making them difficult to navigate. This deterioration in road quality is attributed to the activities of contractors, particularly a company named 'Citrus,' responsible for laying cables in the area.

The contractor's operations have involved the use of heavy machinery, which has exacerbated the degradation of the already vulnerable roads. Bartkevičs pointed out that the contractors, despite existing regulations regarding road use and weight limits, have maintained a disregard for the damage they cause, as they continue to traverse the roads without concern. This situation not only affects local farmers like Bartkevičs, who rely on these roads for access to their properties, but also poses challenges for other residents and travelers in the region.

The implications of this situation extend beyond immediate inconvenience; it raises questions about infrastructure planning and the responsibilities of construction firms to mitigate their impact on local communities. As more construction is planned for the future, community members may need to advocate for better management of road conditions and more stringent enforcement of regulations to protect their local infrastructure from similar damage in the future.