Local authorities urge MPs and the Transport Secretary

The Mayor of Hafnarfjörður yesterday sent a letter to the Members of Parliament for the Southwest constituency, the Budget Committee and the Minister of Transport a letter in which he reminds all these parties of a resolution passed at a well-attended public meeting on 17 October last, where representatives of all political parties were present. The meeting then passed the following resolution:

„A public meeting on transport issues in Hafnarfjörður calls on the government to ensure the continuation of improvements to the Reykjanesbraut in Hafnarfjörður. It is to be ensured that construction work on the junctions and roundabouts on the stretch from Kaplakriki to Lækjargata begins next year, and that the doubling of the Reykjanesbraut from Kaldárselsvegur to the flyover at Krísuvíkurvegur is also completed.“

The mayor also points out that little is lacking except the will. „The design for the Reykjanes Highway from Kaldárselsvegur to the flyover junction with Krísuvíkurveg is ready, so that construction can begin at short notice,“ says the Mayor in the letter, lamenting that now, just over a month and a half after the election, the ambition for improving the traffic safety of the town's residents, the nation's people, and all visitors who come to the country on this stretch has completely vanished.

 These measures are not mentioned anywhere in the 2018 budget, but at the same time, ISAVIA is forecasting an increase in arrivals of foreign visitors to the country, which means even more pressure on the Reykjanesbraut on this simple stretch of it through Hafnarfjörður. At the same time, there is significant development in the Vallahverfi area, in both the form of employment and infrastructure. For example, Icelandair has moved a large part of its operations to the area, and a primary school is being built there at a cost of almost four billion, in addition to the one that already stands in the area.

The letter also points out the fact that no other municipality in the capital region has a motorway running through it with only one lane in each direction. The fact that it is also the section of the highway that runs from the capital to one of the busiest international airports in Northern Europe must seem particularly incongruous.

The local council is urging MPs to include this urgent matter in the 2018 budget, as the current traffic safety concerns and lack of adequate transport cannot be tolerated. 

The mayor's letter can be read here: Varða: Dualling the Reykjanesbraut from Kaldárselsveg to the flyover at Krýsuvíkurveg