Opened the road on the east side: Around 200 cars were waiting

Large queues of cars formed at the road closures on the ring road in the southern part of Iceland, but the road was closed in a section yesterday due to a glacial outburst flood.

The road authority started to let drivers through on the east side of the road closure at 9 o’clock  last night. About 200 vehicles had been waiting at the eastern part of the road, according to representatives of the agency.

Þorsteinn M. Kristinsson, head guard in the South, also noticed by his colleagues on the ground that a large line formed on the east side of the closure, of course on the west side as well.

Much better to be in a convenience store

"We would like to ask people to be patient," Kristinsson said to mbl.is and encouraged people not to set off until it is confirmed that the road has been opened.

Lines of cars could delay road works, as trucks need, among other things, to transport materials to and from the site.

"There is no point in driving to the closed road," he added. "It's no good being stuck on highway 1 and not being able to get anywhere. Then it's better to wait at a good roadside convenience store."