The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority is at a loss as what to do about foreign travellers who ignore signs telling them the road to Dettifoss waterfall in North East Iceland. The IRCA closes the road regularly when it becomes impassable due to weather, but this does not seem to stop foreign travellers who are determined to get to see one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið three cars got stuck on the road just last week.
Read more: Popular tourist destinations in NE Iceland only accessible by 4x4s due to heavy snow
Gunnar Bóasson, with the IRCA in Húsavík, told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that foreign travellers seem determined to ignore signs which show the road is closed: “The greatest problem is that it seems to make no difference what kind of signs we put up, people still ignore them and drive around them if need be.” The IRCA has closed the road with a gate that extends half way across the road, so as not to block returning traffic, and a large sign which says “Ófært/Impassable”. “So, it should be pretty obvious to everybody, but they still just drive around it.”
The road to Dettifoss is not kept open at all times during the fall, winter or spring. According to the IRCA ploughing schedule the road is only ploughed twice each week, so long as the cost of ploughing does not become excessive.
Read more: 10 beautiful (and less visited) Icelandic waterfalls
The primary reason is funding, according to Gunnar. He admits that the traffic to the waterfall is such that it might justify keeping the road open at all times, but adds that no matter how much ploughing is done, it is sometimes impossible to keep up with the weather. “Sometimes it is just crazy to try and keep the road open, thanks to the weather.”
The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority is at a loss as what to do about foreign travellers who ignore signs telling them the road to Dettifoss waterfall in North East Iceland. The IRCA closes the road regularly when it becomes impassable due to weather, but this does not seem to stop foreign travellers who are determined to get to see one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið three cars got stuck on the road just last week.
Read more: Popular tourist destinations in NE Iceland only accessible by 4x4s due to heavy snow
Gunnar Bóasson, with the IRCA in Húsavík, told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that foreign travellers seem determined to ignore signs which show the road is closed: “The greatest problem is that it seems to make no difference what kind of signs we put up, people still ignore them and drive around them if need be.” The IRCA has closed the road with a gate that extends half way across the road, so as not to block returning traffic, and a large sign which says “Ófært/Impassable”. “So, it should be pretty obvious to everybody, but they still just drive around it.”
The road to Dettifoss is not kept open at all times during the fall, winter or spring. According to the IRCA ploughing schedule the road is only ploughed twice each week, so long as the cost of ploughing does not become excessive.
Read more: 10 beautiful (and less visited) Icelandic waterfalls
The primary reason is funding, according to Gunnar. He admits that the traffic to the waterfall is such that it might justify keeping the road open at all times, but adds that no matter how much ploughing is done, it is sometimes impossible to keep up with the weather. “Sometimes it is just crazy to try and keep the road open, thanks to the weather.”
