Even into the 1800s, the Swedish road network was sparse and generally in poor condition. The roads were essentially widened paths that had often emerged and expanded as people and animals moved from one place to another.

For most of the year, the roads were wet and muddy, so they could mainly be used in the summer. During this time, transportation primarily involved shorter distances, such as the herding of livestock. The rural population had long been obligated by the state to keep the country roads in functional condition. This system continued even after the establishment of a new government agency in charge of civil engineering in 1841. The agency's task was to provide financial support for specific investments in canals, roads, and bridges.

However, despite the agency being founded due to neglected road maintenance, it was evident that canals and locks were prioritized over roads, bridges, and ferries. The road initiatives that were undertaken in the 1800s mostly focused on eliminating excessively steep slopes.

It wasn't until the rise of automobiles and the introduction of the car tax in 1923 that a functional system for maintaining country roads emerged.

Caption: Scanian Spring Landscape (1868) by Gustaf Rydberg