Roads

The IRCA is responsible for, and oversees all new transportation projects in development, as well as handling all development, maintenance and service of the road system.

The country’s road system is split into highways, municipal roads, general trails, and private roads. Using this system, highways and municipal roads form a natural, contiguous road system, connecting the developed areas of the island.

Table of contents

Road variations
Road classification
Mountain roads
Grants for transport links
Traffic lights
Related material in Icelandic

Roads

Road variations
Road classification
Mountain roads
Grants for transport links
Traffic lights
Related material in Icelandic

Road variations

Highways

Highways are roads for the public maintained and serviced by the state. Roads are listed in the roads list. The IRCA is the party responsible for highways, municipalities are the party responsible for municipal roads and the owners of private roads are responsible for the upkeep of the roads which they own.

Main 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 and highway system seeks to connect developed areas containing 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 and 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 stretches over the highlands, those roads receive less service than other main roads and are closed during winter.

Connective roads

Connective 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 developed 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 which are not already classified as main roads.

Roads leading to and within national parks.

Roads to popular tourist attractions outside developed 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

Regional roads are the roads that lead to farms, businesses and industry, churches, public schools, and other public institutions outside developed 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 (Icelandic only)

Country roads

Other roads

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

Municipal roads

Municipal roads are roads within a developed 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 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.

General paths

Private roads

Road classification

Road classification determines the technical processes for road construction. The foundational variations are the following:
A	Roads consisting of two separated roadways, at minimum four total lanes, shoulders and/or curb stones
B	Roads consisting of two-to-four separated lanes and a central reserve of 2m at minimum,12m ≤ total width ≤19m
C	Roads consisting of two lanes, 7m ≤ total width ≤10 m
D	Roads consisting of one lane and laybys
F	Trails

Road classification, description: main roads (fewer standards are imposed on other roads)
A34	Roads consisting of two separated roadways, with at least four lanes, shoulders, and/or curb stones with a width of ≥34 m, not including curb stones. Daily traffic volume (ÁDU) ≤55,000 (urban area)
A22	Roads consisting of two seperated roadways, with at least four lanes, shoulders and/or curb stones, with a width between 22-24 m, not including curb stones. ÁDU ≤50,000 (grade-separation, urban area)
B19	Roads consisting of two separated roadways, with three lanes, shoulders and/or curb stones with a width between 19-20 m, not including curb stones. ÁDU ≤45,000 (grade-separation, urban area)
B15.5	Roads consisting of two separated roadways, with three lanes, shoulders and/or curb stones, with a width of 15.5 m. ÁDU ≤15,000 (grade-separation)
B12	Roads consisting of two separated roadways, with two lanes, shoulders and/or curb stones, with a width of 12 m. ÁDU ≤6,000 (flat land)
C10	Roads consisting of one roadway, with two lanes, shoulders and/or curb stones, with a width of 10 m. ÁDU ≤7,000 (rural area, flat land)
C9	Roads consisting of one roadway, with two lanes and shoulders, with a width of 9 m. ÁDU ≤4,000 (rural area, flat land)
C8	Roads consisting of one roadway, with two lanes and shoulders, with a width of 8 m. ÁDU ≤3,000 (rural area, flat land)

Road classifications C7 and D are only applicable to connective, regional and country roads
C7	Roads consisting of one roadway, with two lanes and shoulders, with a width of 7 m. ÁDU ≤500
D4	Roads consisting of one roadway (with laybys) with a width of 4 m. ÁDU ≤50

Road classifications F1, F2 and F3 are only applicable to country roads
F1	Trails — traversible for general traffic in the summertime. Nothing more than a trail, at a lower elevation than the surrounding area, more often than not. Width around 4 m. Large lakes and rivers bridged. These roads are often closed over the winter due to snowfall, and due to mud-wet conditions during the thawing period.
F2	Trails — traversible with four-wheel-driven vehicles, powerful passenger vehicles and jeeps. Nothing more than a trail, at a lower elevation than the surrounding area, more often than not. Width around 4 m. Lakes and small rivers unbridged. Often closed over the winter due to snowfall, and due to mud-wet conditions during the thawing period.
F3	Trails — only traversible with large, well-equipped, four-wheel-drive vehicles or superjeeps. Nothing more than a trail, at a lower elevation than the surrounding area, more often than not. Potentially uneven, rocky,and littered with puddle build-up. Width around 4 m. Often closed over the winter due to snowfall, and due to mud-wet conditions during the thawing period.

Mountain roads

The opening of mountain roads depends on weather during the spring and at the beginning of summer.

The IRCA publishes a map in the spring and into the summer that shows where mountain roads are open. The map is updated as conditions change.

Information about traffic and road conditions is published on umferdin.is

Highland map (PDF file)

Here you can also find information on the opening of mountain roads which shows the estimated opening dates of the main mountain roads.

Opening of mountain roads

Grants for transport links

You can apply for funding to strengthen certain transport routes that do not fall under the definition of roads according to the Road Act. Subsidized transport routes must be open to all public traffic. Apply on My Pages – Applications are open in February.

Applications

Umsókn um nýjan héraðsveg

Upplýsingar

Sækja skrá

Traffic lights

Of the municipalities which constitute the capital region, Reykjavík has the most traffic lights. A portion of these traffic lights are situated along roads under IRCA ownership. Following the Transportation Agreement the IRCA and the six capital region municipalities entered into a collaborative agreement, wherein traffic light responsibility is shared.