13 janúar 2026The road across Hornafjarðarfljót will open this spring
The road across Hornafjarðarfljót will open this spring
There were hopes to open the road to traffic earlier, but it was not possible to complete the second layer of surfacing along the entire section before weather conditions brought such work to a halt.
What remains is to lay the second layer of surfacing on a relatively short section of the road, approximately 2 km. In addition, surface markings and other finishing work still need to be completed before traffic can be allowed onto the road. A design change was also made during the project: instead of constructing a so-called T-junction at the eastern end of the section, it was decided to build a roundabout, which extended both the scope and duration of the works.
Despite this, the project has progressed very well overall. For example, prior to Christmas, the installation of stone guardrails on the embankments at the bridge over Hornafjarðarfljót was successfully completed. In order to finish the surfacing works and apply road markings, suitable weather conditions are required — higher air temperatures and frost-free ground are essential. Completion of the roundabout also remains before the project can be fully finalized.
Once completed, the new road will shorten the Ring Road by 12 km and reduce the number of single-lane bridges on the Ring Road by three, bringing the total down to 26. The project includes the construction of 19 km of national road and 9 km of side roads, as well as four new two-lane bridges. The existing road will remain in use for local traffic, ensuring continued access for nearby communities.
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