Tunn­els

In many areas, tunnels are the only way to ensure good road transport year-round. Tunnels greatly influence the connections between employment areas, as well as strengthening regional development and improving traffic safety. Important tunnel options are all over the country even though it is safe to say that the direst need is in Vestfirðir, Tröllaskagi, and Austfirðir.

A financed long-term tunnelling schedule, where 14 of the most important tunnel options will be implemented in the next 30 years instead of 80 to 100 years, will transform the standard of living and strengthen the competitive capacity of regions with better access to services. Unfortunate and dangerous bottlenecks on mountain roads will be circumvented, ensuring safe transport for inhabitants and industries, year-round.

In the transport plan 2020–2034, which was approved by parliament on 29 June 2020, it is stated that the aim is to perform a comprehensive analysis of tunnel options in Iceland. Options for individual routes should be evaluated with respect to suitability, cost, and social benefit. On the basis of that analysis, tunnel options should be prioritised for the long term. This work is now almost complete.

In 2021, IRCA published a master schedule of the tunnel options that have been most widely discussed and explored in recent years,

forming the basis of this analysis. The University of Akureyri Research Centre (RHA), subsequently carried out an assessment of return, traffic safety, connections between regions, and regional development for each of the tunnel options.

RHA’s report was first published in 2022, with an additional chapter on Seyðisfjarðargöng and Mjóafjarðargöng published in the beginning of 2023.

Prioritisation

In continuation, IRCA has submitted a proposal for the prioritisation of the tunnel options, with reference to the goals of the transport plan regarding easy transport, economical transport, environmentally sustainable transport, and positive regional development. The urgency of the problem each tunnel is meant to solve was also taken into account.

The following prioritisation is proposed:

• Fjarðarheiðargöng
• Siglufjarðarskarðsgöng
• Hvalfjarðargöng 2
• Tunnel between Ólafsfjörður og Dalvík
• Tunnel between Ísafjörður and Súðavík
• Breiðdalsleggur, widening
• Seyðisfjarðar- and Mjóafjarðargöng
• Miklidalur and Hálfdán
• Klettsháls
• Öxnadalsheiði

It is proposed that the tunnelling schedule be reviewed in conjunction with the transport plan, at any given time. For later evaluation the following tunnels are proposed:

• Reynisfjall
• Lónsheiði
• Hellisheiði eystri
• Berufjarðargöng and Breiðdalsheiðargöng

• A plan will be formulated regarding the development and financing of tunnels, with reference to the experience of neighbouring countries. A new public limited company shall be established around the development of infrastructure.
• Plan regarding the development and financing of tunnels.
• A plan will be formulated regarding the development and financing of tunnels, with reference to the experience of neighbouring countries. Work shall be carried out in conjunction with the work of a project office around revenue generation in transport.
• Responsibility: Ministry of Infrastructure and IRCA.
• Traffic fees – It is assumed that tunnel construction will be financed by tunnel tolls.

From the Transport Plan: Accelerated process all over the country, according to the transport plan, the tunneling schedule, or collaborative projects, assume that financing will be wholly or partly achieved by the collection of road tolls. A more detailed arrangement of this collection will be carried out with the joint project office of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. It is important that the gathering of revenue for the state from traffic is sufficient to pay for the necessary investment, is able to create flexibility to accelerate nationally economical projects, and maintain incentives for energy transition. This work will place emphasis on fair collection methods for all citizens. In this regard, the impact on transport cost within in regions will be examined, as well as between various social groups.

Four projects are now on the plan.

• Dýrafjarðargöng – completed
• Fjarðarheiðargöng

For the transport plan that is currently in the consultation portal, the following projects have been added:

• Hvalfjörður Tunnel – preparation
• Ólafsfjörður – Dalvík – preparation

What happens when a car breaks down or if an accident occurs in the Hvalfjörður Tunnel and what should the drivers do? This video displays what happens when cars break down in the tunnel and how drivers should behave in these circumstances. The video is in Icelandic.

The most traffic-heavy tunnels, are equipped with incident cameras and a monitoring system, where shift leaders respond when cars stop, something falls of the cars, or if the tunnel needs to be used for priority transport. Monitoring of safety equipment in the tunnel. There are strict safety requirements for tunnels and monitoring is one of the factors ensuring that IRCA responds quickly if something happens.