Roads

Main roads are a key part of the country’s basic transport infrastructure.

Main roads are defined as:

Roads that connect the built-up areas of the country. The main road- or highway system seeks to connect urban areas that have around 100 inhabitants or more.

The most traffic-heavy roads which serve as connections between municipalities in the greater Reykjavík area.

Roads that stretch across the Icelandic highlands are important for transport and the travelling industry. Where a main road leads into an urban area it terminates at the first intersecting road of that town’s road system; however, a main road is also authorized to reach an airport or port, deemed important for the travel industry and transport.

A part of the main road system lies over the highlands, and naturally has less service than other main roads, and are closed during winter.

Connecting roads are roads outside of urban areas that lie between and connect larger main roads, and are at least 2km in length.

This definition includes:

Roads that connect country roads to main roads.

Roads connecting urban areas with fewer than 100 inhabitants to the main road system.

Roads leading to main airports and ports, deemed important for transport and the travel industry, and roads to ferry ports that are not main roads themselves.

Roads leading to and within national parks.

Roads to popular tourist attractions outside urban areas. Where a connecting road leads into an urban area it terminates at the first intersecting road of that town’s road system

Regional roads are the roads that lead to farms, business and industry, churches, public schools, and other public institutions outside urban areas that are included in plans and the IRCA’s roads list. In addition, a road connecting a summer house area, consisting of at least 30 cottages, to a highway can also fall under the definition of a regional road.

Application for a new regional road

Country roads are roads across mountains or moors that the above criteria does not apply to, as well as decommissioned roads in deserted areas. The roads in question are classed as part of the national road system, but traffic is generally seasonal, and so they require less maintenance and servicing than other highways.

Municipal roads are roads within an urban area that are not classified as highways, cf. Article 8. They are managed by municipalities and are meant for unrestricted public traffic.

General paths are the riding trails, walking or biking paths intended for unrestricted public traffic. These are maintained by state funds or by the relevant municipality.

Private roads are roads that cannot be categorised as highways or municipal roads, and are owned by individuals, companies, or public parties.