Reykjavik proposes overhaul of congested Höfðabakki junction

Morgunblaðið reports that Reykjavik’s Environment and Planning Council is considering a major overhaul of the Höfðabakki and Bæjarháls junction, where traffic has backed up during rush hour since changes were made a few months ago. The council postponed its decision until its next meeting.

Two proposals for improvements were submitted at last week’s meeting. The Centre Party withdrew its proposal and joined one put forward by the three majority parties: the Independence Party, the Progressive Party and Viðreisn.

The proposal calls for preparations to begin on extending the left-turn lane from Bæjarháls, lengthening a lane south of the junction and changing the lane layout from Streng. It also proposes examining the reinstatement of a right-turn bypass from Bæjarháls north onto Höfðabakki, which was removed during the disputed changes.

The council would also assess whether an underpass could be built beneath Höfðabakki, just north of the junction, to connect walking and cycling paths on either side of the road. Before deciding on construction, the council would receive a cost estimate, a projected construction period, a possible start date and information on whether the work would need to go out to tender.

Friðjón R. Friðjónsson, deputy chair of the Environment and Planning Council, told Morgunblaðið that he believed mistakes had been made at the junction, a view he said was shared by residents of Árbær. He said his party had pledged during the election campaign to correct the changes. Traffic entering Streng in Ártúnshöfði had increased several times over since they were made, he said.

Friðjón said there was no clear explanation for the sharp rise in traffic into Ártúnshöfði, which was part of the reason for the proposed response. Residents of Ártúnsholt had also complained about increased traffic through their neighbourhood, he said.

Ari Edwald, the Centre Party’s representative, said the changes had been made without adequate preparation and despite warnings that they would increase delays. He said the resulting problems could not be fixed until next spring.