Contractors review manhole covers in Urriðaholt after boy’s fall

Contractors plan to review all manhole covers in Urriðaholt following an incident where a two-year-old boy fell into one near his home over the weekend. Fortunately, the boy was unharmed, but firefighters had to be called to rescue him.

Örn Tryggvi Johnsen, project and operations manager at the construction company ÞG Verki, which was responsible for building the homes in the area in 2017, stated that a team was dispatched to assess their projects and identify where immediate action is needed. Discussions are underway with their plumbing masters about either redesigning the manhole cover or replacing it with a heavier one.

This morning, the manhole that the boy fell into was shortened and filled with gravel before being covered with soil.

Urriðaholt has developed rapidly, with residents moving in just a decade ago. The neighborhood is home to around 4,000 people, largely consisting of families with children, and 70% of the residents are under 40 years old. The area is characterized by many playgrounds and children at play, along with several manholes, which Örn attributes to the steep terrain.

Such manholes are necessary either as so-called pit drains to manage elevation changes or for utility access to pipelines, which include drainage systems and sewage.