Júlia Brekkan
Hrútey Islet Footbridge
Path
A decision was made to preserve the oldest transport infrastructure in Iceland, a bridge dating from 1897, and give it a new role due to its significant history. The bridge is located between the mainland and the Hrútey Islet in Northern Iceland.
Infrastructure
Walking path
Rocks / Cliffs
Grass
River / Ocean
Unsafe footbridge replaced
Hrútey is on the main road around Iceland, highway 1, and is a frequent destination for tourists and locals. An old footbridge, located on the river banks between the mainland and the islet, needed replacing.
Iceland’s oldest transport infrastructure reused
The old footbridge has now been replaced with the oldest transport infrastructure in Iceland, a bridge dating from 1897. The steel structure of the bridge is in good condition, whereas a new wooden floor will be laid and the handrail replaced. The aim of the project is to improve access to the island, while at the same time preserving this valuable piece of Icelandic infrastructure history. In the coming years, a service building and sanitary facilities will be built in the area.
Key facts
- Location
Hrútey, Municipality of Blönduós, North Iceland
- GPS points
N65° 39' 26.008" W20° 16' 7.397"
- Estimated number of visitors
Several thousand visitors per year
- Project Owner
The Municipality of Blönduós and the The Road and Coastal Administration
- Protection framework
Hrútey was protected as a public park in 1975. It is protected from all traffic from 20 April to 20 June each year due to the nesting of birds.
- High season
- Low season
- Materials
Steel frame with pine crossbeams
- Designer
- Year of design
1897
- Year of construction
1897, reinstalled in June 2021
- Grants
ISK 33,780,000 in 2015 and 2018 from the Tourist Site Protection Fund