Suðurfjarðavegur is not just a road between settlements. It is part of Highway 1, a backbone for the daily lives of residents and a key connection for the creation of value in the national economy.
Yet it has been rated as the most dangerous road section in the country for years. It is not being rushed in the current draft transport plan, but rather the implementation period is being extended. According to EuroRAP analyses, the section between Fáskrúðsfjörður and Breiðdalsvík has repeatedly been defined as the most dangerous road section in Iceland. EuroRAP does not simply assess the number of accidents, but rather the risk based on the volume of traffic and the severity of accidents. Therefore, this is a systemic safety problem, not a random event.
Unacceptable conditions on Highway 1
In Fjarðabyggð's submission to the Alþing, Suðufjarðarvegur is defined as one of the most urgent transportation issues for the municipality and the entire quarter.
The road is:
- narrow and winding
- with numerous blind areas
- with four single-lane bridges on Highway 1
- with weight restrictions on key bridges, including over the Slétta River
A temporary paved surface was laid on the road in 1988. That “temporary solution” still stands, almost four decades later. This is simply not acceptable when it comes to the country’s ring road.
Daily safety of residents
For those of us who live in the South Fjords, this is not an academic discussion.
This road is:
- school transportation for children between residential areas
- daily commute
- ambulance transport route
- connection between the municipality's service and business centers
Two communities in the region have participated in the project "Brotyhättar byðdir". The main conclusion of all this work is that safe and reliable transportation is a prerequisite for urban sustainability and real equalization of living conditions.
National economic importance – not just a regional issue
The Southfjords Road connects:
- three of the four largest fishing ports in the country
- Mjóeyrarhöfn – one of Iceland's largest export ports
- a strong fishing industry and processing
- a large part of the nation's export value
This is not just a matter of interest for Fjarðabyggð. This is an infrastructure that serves the entire national economy. When a single-wide bridge with a weight limit stands in the way of the transportation of equipment and tools, it is not just an inconvenience, it is an obstacle to value creation.
Phase 1 needs to be accelerated – immediately
Fjarðabyggð's comments on the draft Transport Plan clearly state that nothing stands in the way of starting construction on Phase 1 of the Suðurfjarðavegur immediately.
Priorities need to be clear:
- Complete project design promptly
- Move the ring road to Reyðarfjörðurbotn
- Build new bridges over the Sléttuá River and at the bottom of Stöðvarfjörður
- Renovate single-lane bridges in parallel
This will reduce the number of single-lane bridges on Highway 1 by five. That alone is a major safety step.
Study of the Southfjords Tunnel in parallel with construction
At the same time as Phase 1 is being implemented, it is both sensible and responsible to begin research into the corridor options for the Suðurfjarðagangar. Such an approach ensures continuity in planning, reduces future costs, and strengthens the overall vision of transportation in the region.
Conclusion
Suðurfjarðavegur is:
- The most dangerous road section in the country according to international analysis
- key section of Highway 1
- backbone of the daily lives of residents
- and infrastructure that supports a large portion of the nation's export value
That's why the first phase of the Suðurfjarðavegur highway should not wait.
As a resident of Stöðvarfjörður and a candidate for the 6th seat of the Independence Party in Fjarðabyggð I believe this is a clear priority issue. This is a security issue, a regional issue, and a national economic issue all at the same time.
We should not accept that the most dangerous road in the country is part of the ring road.
We should start construction. Immediately.