Maintenance Work to resume
Maintenance work on the bridge over the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river at Grímsstaðir on Route 1, between North and East Iceland, is scheduled to resume on Monday, 17 August. The work was originally planned for this summer but was paused in June due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The work is expected to continue until mid-September, allowing the remaining tasks planned for this summer to be completed. However, the schedule is weather-dependent.
The bridge was built in 1947, and its load-bearing capacity has decreased over the years. Some corrosion has developed in the bridge cables, making it particularly important to complete the maintenance work before winter.
The bridge will need to be closed to traffic while work is underway. Closures will follow the same arrangements as earlier this summer.
Work will take place on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Traffic will be allowed across the bridge four times a day:
- 9:45–10:15 a.m.
- 12:00–1:00 p.m.
- 2:45–3:15 p.m.
- 4:45–5:15 p.m.
The bridge will remain open from the end of each working day until work resumes the following morning. It will also be open to traffic throughout the weekend.
Maintenance work such as painting cannot be carried out at night due to high humidity levels.
The closures are not expected to significantly affect emergency services, as the bridge can be opened to traffic at short notice if circumstances require. Information signs with instructions and traffic markings will be installed near the bridge.
Vegagerðin (the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration) asks motorists to be patient, follow all signs, and comply with instructions in the work area.
Real-time information on traffic restrictions is always available at www.umferdin.is.