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Route 1 (Iceland)

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Route 1
Þjóðvegur 1
The Ring Road of Iceland and some towns it connects: (1) Reykjavík; (2) Borgarnes; (3) Blönduós; (4) Akureyri; (5) Egilsstaðir; (6) Höfn; (7) Selfoss
Route information
Length1,339 km[1] (832 mi)
Location
CountryIceland
Highway system

Route 1 or the Ring Road (Icelandic: Þjóðvegur 1 or Hringvegur) is a national road in Iceland that runs around the island and connects the most populous parts of the country. The total length of the road is 1,339 kilometres (832 mi).

The circle was finished in 1974 to celebrate the country's 1100 years of settlement[1] when the longest bridge in Iceland[2] over Skeiðará river in Southern Iceland was opened.

Characteristics

For almost all its length, the road is two lanes wide with one lane in each direction. Where it passes through larger towns and cities it may be expanded to more lanes, as well as in the Hvalfjörður Tunnel. Most smaller bridges are single lane and made of wood and/or steel. The road is paved with asphalt for most of its length, but there are still stretches in the eastern part of the country with an unpaved gravel surface. The Iceland Road Administration, Vegagerðin oversees the maintenance and creation of national to small access roads in the country.

Although paved, some portions of the road are still the original 1940s country roads, and contain hazards such as blind curves and blind hills, one lane bridges, and narrow passes. In winter, icy roads and sheer winds can make travel especially hazardous.

The maximum speed on most of the road is 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph).

Natural hazards

Route one crosses Skeiðarársandur, a glacial outwash plain which makes road construction difficult. In addition, the plain is subject to frequent glacial outburst floods during Grímsvötn eruptions. Bridges and other stretches of road over the plain often need to be rebuilt as a result.

Traffic

Traffic on the road varies depending on location; in and near Reykjavík it is around 5,000–10,000 vehicles per day, but the stretches farthest away from larger towns see fewer than 100 vehicles per day on average.

The Ring Road is popular with tourists since it covers most of the country and many sights of interest are not far from it. It has been an especially popular tour with Icelandic families on summer vacation, but in later years the route is becoming more popular with foreigners who prefer to either rent a car or bring their own on the ferry to Seyðisfjörður.

Sections

The route goes by many names depending on location. The following table shows road names (excluding tunnels) in a clockwise direction from Reykjavík.

The intersection of Suðurlandsvegur (left) and Vesturlandvegur (lower right) in Reykjavík. The latter continues more than 2 km to the west (far side), before merging with route 49.
Route 1, East Iceland
Name Location
Vesturlandsvegur Eastern Reykjavík to Borgarnes
Borgarbraut Borgarnes
Hringvegur Borgarnes to northern Akureyri
Hörgárbraut Akureyri
Glerárgata Akureyri
Drottningarbraut (partial) Akureyri
Hringvegur Southern Akureyri to the intersection to Höfn
Suðurlandsvegur North of Höfn to Hella
Suðurlandsbraut From Hella to eastern Selfoss
Austurvegur Selfoss
Suðurlandsvegur From Selfoss to eastern Reykjavík

List of cities and towns on Route 1

Travelling clockwise (initially northward) from Reykjavik, the following communities and settlements are located on Route 1.

  • A typical stretch of Route 1, picture taken in Borgarfjörður
    A typical stretch of Route 1, picture taken in Borgarfjörður
  • South down the ringroad on Holtavörðuheiði between Bifröst and Brú. November 2007
    South down the ringroad on Holtavörðuheiði between Bifröst and Brú. November 2007
  • Road conditions are monitored in real-time by a system of weather stations and webcams, such as this station at Vatnsskarð pass in north Iceland.
    Road conditions are monitored in real-time by a system of weather stations and webcams, such as this station at Vatnsskarð pass in north Iceland.
  • An icy stretch of Route 1 between Vík í Mýrdal and Höfn
    An icy stretch of Route 1 between Vík í Mýrdal and Höfn
  • Distance sign (Southbound) near Egilsstaðir
    Distance sign (Southbound) near Egilsstaðir

References

  1. ^ "Iceland: Milestones in Icelandic History". Iceland.vefur.is. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  2. ^ http://www.vegagerdin.is/vefur2.nsf/Files/Vegakerfid_english/$file/ATTRJY5V.pdf
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hringvegur.
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