Late on Thursday afternoon, Skaraborg Municipal Association presented a change that the union believes could lead to the Skaraborg area becoming the country's fourth largest labor market region. A prerequisite for this great hope is, according to the union, that "all Skaraborgers can reach all work and study opportunities in Skaraborg within a reasonable commuting time"

"Only 150-250 additional commuters are needed for us to become the country's fourth largest labor market region," says Jonas Sundström (S), municipal council in Lidköping.

What happens is that Skaraborg's most important road commuter route becomes a national road all the way. The Lidköping-Skara route has so far been County Road 184, while Skara-Skövde has been National Route 49. The connection between the 49th and the 184th, Brogårdsleden in Skara, has had a third road number. Now the entire stretch of Lidköping-Skara-Skövde becomes national road 49. The signs have just been replaced on the Brogårds Trail past Skara and on the entire old road 184 towards Lidköping.

Meaning?

But the question is whether the change of road number really has the significance that the burghers politicians believe. The formal difference between a national road and a county road disappeared through amended laws and regulations in 2012.

- There is no connection whatsoever between the road number and operation and maintenance, European road, national road or county road, says Lennart Hellsing at the Swedish Transport Administration to SVT Nyheter Väst.

- Politicians often have too much confidence in road numbering. But there are other factors that govern.

hopes

At Skaraborg Municipal Association, at least there are high hopes for the change of road number and the association emphasizes that several road measures are now being implemented and planned on the route.

- We believe that the opportunity for improvement increases when the entire route is viewed as a unit, says Katarina Jonsson, chair of the Skaraborg Municipal Association to SVT Nyheter Väst.

- How we talk about things controls how we think about things. Now it is a road to the name and then we think of it as a road, says Ylva Pettersson (M), municipal council in Skara.

It remains to be seen if any of the cohesive road numbering Lidköping-Skara-Skövde can further increase the commute in Skaraborg.