Proposal Would Extend Ring Road Into the Westfjords

2026-03-11 - 09:47

A government working group has proposed extending Iceland’s main Route 1 (Iceland Ring Road) to include roads in the Westfjords. As reported by RÚV, the move would bring the region onto the country’s primary road network for the first time. What's the Story? Review by a working group appointed by Eyjólfur Ármannsson on road classification in the Westfjords Proposal to include Vestfjarðavegur and Djúpvegur as part of Route 1 (Iceland Ring Road) Alternative proposal examined for a “Ring Road 2” using five Westfjords routes including Barðastrandarvegur, Bíldudalsvegur and Innstrandarvegur The Westfjords in Winter. Photo: Art Bicnick. Iceland Review Infrastructure review underway The group was appointed by Eyjólfur Ármannsson, Iceland’s Minister of Infrastructure, to examine whether several routes in the Westfjords should instead be designated as a separate “Ring Road 2”. The review covered Vestfjarðavegur, Djúpvegur, Barðastrandarvegur, Bíldudalsvegur and Innstrandarvegur. While the concept of a second ring road was considered, the working group ultimately recommended integrating Vestfjarðavegur and Djúpvegur directly into Route 1. According to the report, road conditions in the region have improved significantly since the national road numbering system was introduced in 1972. At that time, infrastructure in the Westfjords was judged insufficient for inclusion in the Ring Road. The group now says the two routes are comparable in quality to other sections of the highway network. The proposal also noted that branding several Westfjords routes as a “Ring Road 2” could act as a tourism marketing tool and potentially increase visitor numbers, though such a designation would not necessarily guarantee greater funding for maintenance or winter services.