Bridges
There are 1,185 bridges in Iceland, of which 229 can be found on the Ring Road. The IRCA is responsible for the maintenance and service of the country’s bridges.
Bridge design
Aerial view of a bridge over Önundarfjörður in the Westfjords.
Aerial view of a new pedestrian, and cycling bridge over Elliðaárósar.
Protection of historical relics
The IRCA has made a great effort to document and preserve historical relics, e.g. by renovating historical bridges, for which an award is now given.
Bridge | Length | Design | Year built | Rebuilt | Type | More details |
Örnólfsdalsá by Norðtunga | 33 m | Windfeld Hansen / Sigurður Thoroddsen | 1899 | suspension bridge | The only preserved bridge from the 19th century. | |
Bláskeggsá by Þyrill in Hvalfjörður | 7 m | Jón Þorláksson | 1907 | 2010 | concrete arch bridge | The oldest concrete arch bridge in Iceland. |
Fnjóská by Vaglaskógur | 55 m | Christiani & Nielsen | 1908 | concrete arch bridge | The longest concrete arch bridge in the Nordic countries for quite some time. | |
Jökulsá á Brú by Hákonarstaðir in Jökuldalur | 27.4 m | 1908 | 2008 | truss bridge | Steel structure manufactured in America. | |
Haffjarðará | 30 m | 1912 | 2011 | concrete arch bridge | Original bridge in service until 1965. | |
Kaldakvísl in Mosfellsbær | 19.3 m | 1912 | concrete arch bridge | |||
Vesturós in Héraðsvötn | 113 m | 1925 | concrete beam bridge | Bridge for pedestrians and equestrian traffic. | ||
Bakkaá in Tjörnes | 5.5 m | 1927 | concrete arch bridge | |||
Hvíta by Ferjukot in Borgarfjörður | 106 m | Árni Pálsson | 1928 | concrete arch bridge | Long concrete arch bridge with two arches. | |
Ormsá in Hrútafjörður | 22.3 m | 1929 | 2010 | arch bridge | Original bridge in service until 1983. | |
Skjálfandafljót by Fosshóll | 71 m | 1930 | steel bridge | In service until 1972. Replaced an older bridge from 1883. | ||
Botnsá in Hvalfjörður | 22 m | 1932 | 1985 | concrete beam bridge | ||
Geithúsaá in Reyðarfjörður | 18 m | 1935 | beam bridge | Built on top of beam foundations of a wooden bridge from 1905. | ||
Tunguá in Skutulsfjörður | 10 m | 1940 | concrete beam bridge | |||
Hítará | 1905 | 2008 | Old foundations from 1905, new top structure in 2008. | |||
Jökulsá á Dal by Fossvellir | 26 m | 1931 | concrete arch bridge | In service until 1994 | ||
Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland Award
In 2015, the IRCA was the first recipient of a Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland Award for important pioneering endeavours in service of cultural heritage protection.
“This award is presented to the IRCA for initiating the protection and renovation of historical bridges in recent years. The IRCA has for a long time endeavoured to document and protect the heritage of its own operations pertaining to the history of road building in Iceland. The institute operates the Icelandic Road Museum, specifically to document- and communicate to the wider public the history of road construction in Iceland. The museum’s artefacts, such as machinery, equipment, tents, and work sheds are on display in a special section of the Skógar Transportation Museum. In addition to the Icelandic Road Museum, the IRCA has initiated the repair or renovation of sixteen historical bridges for preservation at their original locations.
Few technical structures have had more importance for Icelandic society than the first bridges erected over the country’s large rivers at the end of the 19th Century and in the first decades of the 20th. Therefore, it is invaluable that important examples from the evolution of Icelandic bridges have been preserved, including the only steel suspension bridge left from the 19th Century, and the first concrete bridge, built in 1907. The IRCA facilitated the rebuilding of certain bridges to a large extent, while in other cases, the renovation of individual parts sufficed. The goal of the reconstruction projects is two-fold: To ensure the preservation of historical structures and guaranteeing new, worthy uses for them, such as walking paths and riding trails. In some cases, bridges have a role when it comes to tourist attractions, i.e. at Skjálfandafljót by Fosshóll, where the walk across the old steel bridge is an important aspect for visitors in experiencing the canyon below Goðafoss waterfall. In many instances, bridges have conservation value due to their unique architecture, as well as history with regards to technology and transport. Such is the case for the concrete arch bridge across Fnjóská by Vaglaskógur. Viewed through the lens of architecture, it is one of the most beautiful structures built in Iceland in the 20th Century.”