Dual carriageway on the Reykjanesbraut from Hafnarfjörður to Reykjanesbær opened

The Reykjanesbraut is fully dual carriageway to Reykjanesbær.

Around 80 people attended to watch the Minister of Transport, Eyjólfur Ármansson, Bergþóra Þorkelsdóttir, Director of the Road Administration, and Valdimar Víðisson, mayor of Hafnarfjörður, to cut a ribbon to mark the formal opening of the dualisation of the Reykjanes Highway between Krýsuvíkurvegur and Hvassahraun. The milestone was celebrated at the Haukahúsið.

Mayor Valdimar Víðisson said it was a real pleasure to celebrate this milestone. „With this doubling, we are taking a big step towards safer and better transport. The dualling means greater road safety, a clearer separation of traffic flows, better traffic flow and a lower risk of serious accidents. This matters for everyone who uses this route, whether it's to work, to school, to the airport or between municipalities,“ he said.

„For us in Hafnarfjörður, however, this is of particular importance. The Reykjanesbraut is the municipality's main and largest transport artery. It connects us to the capital region, the South West, the airport and all the business that relies on this connection being reliable, smooth and safe.“

21,500 cars per day on the track

According to a report by the Road Administration on the opening, traffic on the Reykjanesbraut has increased steadily over recent decades, and it is therefore important to separate the carriageways on the road to increase the safety of road users. „The average traffic (annual daily traffic) on the Reykjanesbraut in 2024 was 21,500 vehicles per day.“

The Reykjanesbraut (41) Krýsuvíkurvegur – Hvassahraun project consists of widening the Reykjanesbraut over a 5.6 km section from Krýsuvíkurvegur to the end of the four-lane section at Hraun, west of Straumsvík.

The road was widened to 2+2 separate lanes, the flyover junctions at the Straumsvík aluminium smelter were also modified and road connections were provided to Straumur and Álhellu. „Elevated junctions were built at Rauðamel and road connections were provided to Straumsvíkurhöfn and the pumping and treatment station east of Straumsvík, with underpasses. Underpasses for pedestrians and cyclists were also constructed just east of the aluminium smelter, as well as monitoring points for traffic control on both sides of the Reykjanesbraut, east of Straumsvík.“

The Road Administration opened tenders for the project in April 2023 and entered into a contract with Íslenska aðalverktaka hf. in May 2023.

Wants to see the Chapter at Kaplakrika next

In his speech at the Haukahúsið after the opening, Valdimar said the next urgent project on the Reykjanesbrautin would be the section from Kaplakriki to N1.

„Motorists there experience daily traffic jams during peak hours, heavy and dense traffic around the clock, and conditions that affect both the safety and quality of life of residents,“ he said, pointing out that next week options for the future layout of this section will be presented. „On this matter, we in Hafnarfjörður have been clear in our position: in our opinion, a tunnel under Setbergshamar is the most viable option.“

He also mentioned the importance of the so-called Refugee Route. A robust and secure alternative route is not a luxury. „It is part of the basic security of the community, important for emergency services, for air transport, tourism, business and, in fact, the entire national economy. We should look at this route as a national project, not just as a local road construction project.“

He therefore called on the government. „We need to make clear decisions about these future options and secure funding for the solution that best serves residents, the environment and safety in the long term.“

Finally, he congratulated everyone on this important milestone on the Reykjanesbraut.