New Bridge Opens across Hvítá River

A new bridge across Hvítá river in Árnessýsla county, which connects the districts Biskupstungur and Hrunamannahreppur in southwest Iceland and shortens the distance between Flúdir and Reykholt considerably, opened yesterday.


From Flúdir.

It is estimated that 500 to 700 vehicles will cross the bridge every 24 hours. Operations began in June last year and the total cost is estimated at almost ISK 1 billion (USD 8.6 million, EUR 6.5 million). The new road will be permanently paved next spring, Morgunbladid reports.

“A lot of people were here to celebrate,” said Ragnhildur Thórarinsdóttir, who was one of the eight women from Biskupstungur who invited guests attending the opening ceremony to coffee and kleinur (twisted Icelandic doughnuts).

“It is a huge improvement in transport, not just for us but all Icelanders,” Thórarinsdóttir added. There are many vegetable farmers on either side of the river and the new bridge will make it easier for them to transport their products to the market.

To celebrate the event, farmers from the two districts decided to donate fresh vegetables to each others’ elementary schools throughout this month.

The tourist industry also celebrated the event. “They used to talk about the good old Golden Circle but now there are many circles, many detours and the versatility in the tourist industry increases,” Ásborg Arnthórsdóttir, the travel representative of the upcountry districts of Árnessýsla county, commented.

Three weeks ago a new paved road across Lyngdalsheidi heath from Thingvellir national park to Laugarvatn opened, another major improvement to the region’s transport system.