A slip road will become a reality

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður welcomes the decision by the new Minister of Transport, Jón Gunnarsson, to launch a tender for the construction of a roundabout at the junction of the Reykjanesbraut and Krýsuvíkurvegur, to be carried out at the very beginning of this year. The junction is a major safety concern for, among others, residents of the Vallahverfi district and all those who travel to the expanding commercial area in the Hellna- and Kapelluhraun.

The misaligned junction of the Reykjanesbraut and the Krýsuvíkurveg has long been overdue, and the T-junction that currently exists in the area is a product of its time. Traffic on the Reykjanesbraut, to and from Keflavík, has increased significantly in recent years, and the conditions at and around the junction are extremely dangerous, as the numerous collisions and accidents in the area over the past few months and years clearly demonstrate.. I very much welcome the minister's confirmation this morning that work on the flyover junction of the Reykjanesbraut and Krýsuvíkurvegur will get underway at the start of this year. I expect things to move quite quickly, for the project to be put out to tender in the coming weeks, and for a contract to be signed with the prospective contractor so that construction can begin in the spring and be completed by the end of the year.„ says Haraldur L. Haraldsson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður. „This is certainly a step in the right direction, and I expect that the dualling of the Reykjanesbraut through Hafnarfjörður will follow. The two must go hand in hand. It is safe to say that Hafnarfjörður has been left behind when it comes to the allocation of funds for motorway network projects. This decision therefore marks a turning point. There are several other pressing projects for the development of the main road network through the town, but in addition to the junction of Krýsuvíkurvegur and Reykjanesbraut, there are two junctions in the system that have long since ceased to cope with the traffic that passes through them. Hlíðartorg is a roundabout at the junction of the Reykjanesbraut and Lækjargata/Hlíðarberg. This junction is congested today, and during peak times, traffic queues stretch all the way to Straumsvík. It is necessary to increase the capacity of these roundabouts in some way and introduce permanent solutions that improve safety for all involved. Attention also needs to be paid to the junction of Fjarðarhraun and the Reykjanesbraut at Kaplakriki.

Local authorities, businesses and residents have called for the works to be carried out.

The Hafnarfjörður town council has for a long time urged the Althingi to provide funding for the project, in addition to which businesses and residents in the area have held meetings and sent communications to all relevant parties about their concerns regarding the situation. Exactly one year ago, businesses in Hellnahraun and Selhraun held a solidarity meeting which was primarily focused on improving safety in the area. The industrial estate is considered one of the best in Iceland today, and there are considerable opportunities for expansion. At the meeting, the companies pressed for the construction of a roundabout, specifically to ensure the safety of their employees and customers, as well as everyone who passes through the area.

The wait for action has affected growth and further development in the area, as interested companies have put off setting up operations or relocating to the area because of this. This decision and the pending implementation therefore have a huge impact on daily life and further development. The number of businesses in Hellnahraun, Selhraun and on Völlunum is around 160, and it is estimated that there are at least 1,700 employees. A large proportion of the staff of these companies, the area's residents, who number almost 5,000, as well as visitors and customers who come to the area for services, use the T-junction that is in place today, which was installed as a temporary solution while the area was being developed. At least 217,000 large lorries pass through the junction annually, or an average of 93 lorries per hour. (on weekdays from 7:30 am – 6 pm) according to figures from six major companies in the area, in addition to other traffic, which were compiled in conjunction with the companies' meetings at the beginning of last year. It is assumed that these figures have increased since then.