For many people, the job of a road worker is associated with working outdoors in all kinds of weather—under the blazing sun and in pouring rain alike. However, during severe winter frosts, road construction work usually comes to a complete stop. We looked into what residents of the Marijampolė region who work on the roads do during this time.
Sigita Gaidienė, Head of HR at the Alytus-based road construction company Alkesta, explains that during the cold season most outdoor work comes to a halt, allowing employees of road and bridge construction companies to catch their breath and devote time to things that are often neglected during the busy season.
“In winter, not only road workers stop working in our company, but also bridge builders and electricians who work outdoors—we have quite a large number of such employees. The work of heavy truck drivers and machinery operators also slows down. During winter, they take turns repairing their equipment in workshops or go on leave, spend time with their children, and focus on their health. We have more than 200 employees in these categories alone,” Gaidienė explains.
According to the HR manager at Alkesta, people are very different, so once they step away from daily roadwork, they spend their time in different ways. For example, they renovate their homes, read books, go fishing, hike, observe birds, or practice blacksmithing.
“Fishing enthusiasts go ice fishing and are especially pleased with this winter, which has been very favorable for it. Those who have hobbies or unfinished personal projects are happy about the winter work break, while for others the time may feel long,” she notes.
Busy in Summer, A Different Pace in Winter
Asphalting work also stops during the cold season. Vytautas Kašalynas, head of the Marijampolė asphalt concrete plant of Alkesta, decided to dedicate this period to his family—he took parental leave.
“I took the mandatory parental leave—two non-transferable months. I chose a moment when I could step away from work,” says Kašalynas.
Working at Alkesta since 2017, he says he appreciates this rhythm: summers are intense, while winters allow for some rest. “It’s always beneficial to do something different so your mind can focus elsewhere for a while,” he explains.
Still, the head of the Marijampolė asphalt concrete plant admits he never completely disconnects from work. “I receive calls from colleagues—someone needs something, someone is missing information—so I help out,” Vytautas says.
Asked how he became a road professional, Kašalynas explains that he completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in bridge engineering in Vilnius. After graduating, he returned to live in Lazdijai and looked for a job in his field, but bridge construction companies in the region were not hiring at the time.
He began his career working in a laboratory, later moved to the asphalt concrete plant in Kaniūkai, and since 2022 has headed Alkesta’s Marijampolė asphalt concrete plant.
Asked what motivates him in his work, Vytautas says he is most inspired by the opportunity to contribute to the development of the country’s transport infrastructure and to see tangible results. “Here a road has been laid, there a street repaired—something has been done to make life better and more convenient. You can see everywhere where your effort has made a positive impact. That’s very rewarding,” he says.
According to him, for those working physically outdoors or in production, the opportunity to spend more time with family and attend to other matters during winter is a major advantage of the profession. Nevertheless, both he and many of his colleagues miss roadwork during the winter break. “When you see meaning in your work, it’s always good to return,” Kašalynas concludes.
