One of capital area’s busiest bike paths closed for over a year
The bike path will be closed until the autumn of 2026. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
One of the most heavily used cycling routes in the capital area is set to be closed for over a year due to major infrastructure work. The closure began this week and is not expected to end until August next year. Pedestrians and cyclists will be diverted to a longer detour route, which is necessary due to land conservation measures.
The project involves the renewal of district heating pipelines along Hafnarfjarðarvegur, starting from Borgarholtsbraut. The closed section—part of the main cycling artery into Reykjavík—runs south from Hamraborg past Kópavogstún, serving commuters from Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, and Kópavogur.
The construction is part of the transportation agreement between the state and municipalities in the capital area. Once the pipeline work is completed, Kópavogur municipality will build a new combined cycling and pedestrian path along the same stretch.
Widespread complaints
The disruption has already drawn significant criticism. Erlendur Þorsteinsson, chairman of the Icelandic Cyclists’ Federation, says he has received numerous complaints, particularly about the proposed detour, which many find inadequate.
A map showing the bike path in question. The affected area stretches from Borgarholtsbraut near Hamraborg (at the top of the image), down along Hafnarfjarðarvegur, crossing Kópavogsbraut, and continuing alongside Kópavogstún to the underpass leading into Kópavogsdalur. Screenshot/Veitur
“This is a very heavily used path,” Þorsteinsson said. “Detour routes for pedestrians and cyclists are often makeshift and poorly thought out. In this case, people have no realistic way to get where they need to go without cutting through nearby residential areas.”
He added that he had not yet received photos from the area and therefore could not comment in detail on whether the detour needed improvement. However, he warned that if the alternative route is not properly maintained, it could affect commuters, especially in winter:
“If not maintained, foot and bike traffic could increase elsewhere and lead to safety issues,” he said.
Unequal treatment for drivers vs. cyclists
Þorsteinsson also pointed out a double standard in how road users are treated during construction projects:
“If this had involved car traffic, they would have paved an alternate road immediately,” he said.
He recalled a previous construction project on Stekkjabakki, where both a road and a path were dug up. While a temporary paved road was created for drivers, no equivalent was provided for pedestrians and cyclists.
