29 september 2025

Constructi­on of Jökul­dals­vegur to Stuðlagil

The project includes the reconstruction and paving of a 4.6 km section of road from Arnórsstaðir to Langagerði. The alignment follows the old road, but the surface has been raised and leveled. Tenders were opened in September 2023, and a contract was awarded to Héraðsverk ehf. of Egilsstaðir.

Construction began in the summer of 2024. Due to heavy daytime traffic, the contractor and his team chose to carry out much of the work at night. Since the new road follows the same alignment as the old one, it was challenging to carry out construction without closing it to traffic. Closing the road during the day was not considered feasible, as no bypass was available. Some traffic also passed through the construction area in the evenings and at night, and was allowed to proceed under supervision.

Construction and final finishing are scheduled for completion by the end of the summer.

The work completed today is part of the larger project to build and pave Jökuldalsvegur, extending from the Ring Road to the farm Grund. In 2022, a 3.1 km section was constructed from Gilsá into the settlement at Arnórsstaðir, followed by the reconstruction of an additional 1 km stretch to Arnórsstaðarhvammur (Hnappá) — a total of 4.1 km.

Construction of Jökuldalsvegur will continue in the coming years. The next phase involves building the section from Langagerði to Hákonarstaðir, approximately four kilometers, followed by the final four kilometers leading to the farm Grund. Once completed, this project will provide a fully paved road to Stuðlagil, one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Iceland.

At Hákonarstaðir, many visitors turn onto Klausturselsvegur, which leads to a parking area from where there is a two-kilometer walk to Stuðlagil. Another option is to continue along Jökuldalsvegur to the farm Grund, where facilities for tourists include restrooms and several viewing platforms overlooking the canyon.

The timing of the next construction projects will be clarified in the new transport plan, which will be presented to Parliament this autumn.

This article was first published in Framkvæmdafréttir, issue no. 3, 2025.  Click here for the whole issue