Mayor calls for alternative route development in Skaftárhreppur, Iceland

In Skaftárhreppur, the local mayor emphasizes the importance of establishing an alternative route following recent closures of the Ring Road, like the incident that occurred last Saturday. The only alternative, the northern Fjallabaksleið, is often impassable for most vehicles during summer months.

Mayor Jóhannes Gissurarson highlights that inaction over the last few decades has resulted in glacial outburst floods from Mýrdalsjökull affecting the Skálm river’s course, which has caused issues for local residents. He insists it is vital to ensure an alternative escape route for the community if the main road is blocked.

Three decades ago, the Leirá river’s path began to shift, directing water flow down the sands along the Skálm river. Despite pointing out potential damage from not redirecting the Leirá to its original course to state agencies, proposals like constructing a protective dam to guide the water flow were never implemented.

The recent events have underscored the need to secure transportation routes in sandy regions when the Ring Road is closed. “It’s often talked about having alternative routes, a plan B,” says Jóhannes. Alongside the local council, he is advocating for the development of the northern Fjallabaksleið as a secondary route, not just for local residents but for maintaining connectivity across the country.

Currently, while half of the Fjallabaksleið is paved, the remainder is generally unsuitable for most vehicles. The mayor argues for upgrading this route and constructing necessary bridges to prepare for possible emergencies, such as another potential glacial flood like the one that occurred with the Katla volcano. “It seems only natural to plan for alternatives like this, as is done elsewhere,” he concludes.