Þingvallarvegur road, the main road through Þingvellir National Park, and one of the most scenic parts of the popular Golden Circle, has been closed to all traffic. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority is repairing and strengthening the road. The road will be opened to traffic in October, but will be closed again to traffic in the spring of 2018. The duration of next year's closure will be determined by how well this year's repairs proceed, a spokesman for the IRCA told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið.
Road not designed for today's traffic
The narrow road through Þingvellir National Park is more than 40 years old, and was in serious needs for repairs. Dramatic increase in traffic in recent years, especially by large tour buses, had weakened the road. The shoulders of the road have caved in on several occasions, leading to accidents. The road was not designed to handle the amount of traffic it has seen in recent years.
Read more: Nobody hurt as tour bus rolls onto its side in Þingvellir national park
Visitors to Þingvellir National Park and people taking the popular Golden Circle need not despair. In fact, the road closing forces travelers to take an even more scenic route through the park. The IRCA is rerouting all traffic along Vallarvegur, an even narrower road which leads from the park service center to Silfra fissure, and then east along the coast of Þingvallavatn lake.
Drive carefully, slow down
People are urged to show extra caution, SLOW DOWN and respect the speed limit: Vallarvegur is NOT a highway, and meeting cars on the narrow winding road can be a challenge. Do NOT attempt to overtake cars, as the road has numerous blind spots that makie it difficult or impossible to see oncoming traffic. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should travelers park their cars on the side of the road, as this poses serious danger to other drivers: Use the designated parking spots along the road.
Þingvallarvegur road, the main road through Þingvellir National Park, and one of the most scenic parts of the popular Golden Circle, has been closed to all traffic. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority is repairing and strengthening the road. The road will be opened to traffic in October, but will be closed again to traffic in the spring of 2018. The duration of next year's closure will be determined by how well this year's repairs proceed, a spokesman for the IRCA told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið.
Road not designed for today's traffic
The narrow road through Þingvellir National Park is more than 40 years old, and was in serious needs for repairs. Dramatic increase in traffic in recent years, especially by large tour buses, had weakened the road. The shoulders of the road have caved in on several occasions, leading to accidents. The road was not designed to handle the amount of traffic it has seen in recent years.
Read more: Nobody hurt as tour bus rolls onto its side in Þingvellir national park
Visitors to Þingvellir National Park and people taking the popular Golden Circle need not despair. In fact, the road closing forces travelers to take an even more scenic route through the park. The IRCA is rerouting all traffic along Vallarvegur, an even narrower road which leads from the park service center to Silfra fissure, and then east along the coast of Þingvallavatn lake.
Drive carefully, slow down
People are urged to show extra caution, SLOW DOWN and respect the speed limit: Vallarvegur is NOT a highway, and meeting cars on the narrow winding road can be a challenge. Do NOT attempt to overtake cars, as the road has numerous blind spots that makie it difficult or impossible to see oncoming traffic. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should travelers park their cars on the side of the road, as this poses serious danger to other drivers: Use the designated parking spots along the road.
