Route 1 (Iceland) - Characteristics

Characteristics

For almost all its length, the road is two lanes wide with one lane in each direction. Where it passes through larger towns and cities it may be expanded to more lanes, as well as in the Hvalfjörður Tunnel. Most smaller bridges are single lane and made of wood and/or steel. The road is paved with asphalt for most of its length, but there are still stretches in the eastern part of the country with an unpaved gravel surface. The Iceland Road Administration, Vegagerðin oversees the maintenance and creation of national to small access roads in the country.

Although paved, some portions of the road are still the original 1940s country roads, and contain hazards such as blind curves and blind hills, one lane bridges, and narrow passes. In winter, icy roads and sheer winds can make travel especially hazardous.

The maximum speed on most of the road is 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph).