Ring Road Bridge Closed by Day Until 16 June: What Drivers Need to Know
Drivers completing a full circuit of Iceland’s Ring Road need to plan around temporary daytime closures at the bridge over Jökulsá á Fjöllum near Grímsstaðir in northeast Iceland.
The Icelandic Tourist Board confirmed that maintenance and repainting work will keep the Route 1 bridge closed between 08:00 and 19:00 daily from 26 May to 16 June 2026. Outside those hours, the bridge is fully open to all traffic.
Passing windows during the day
During working hours, the bridge opens four times for vehicles to cross in both directions:
- 09:45–10:15
- 12:00–13:00
- 14:45–15:15
- 16:45–17:15
Emergency vehicles can cross at any time on request.
Planning your route
The affected crossing sits between the Mývatn lake district to the west and Egilsstaðir in the east fjords. There is no practical alternative route on this stretch of the Ring Road, so timing your arrival to coincide with one of the four windows is essential.
If you miss a window, the next opening is no more than three hours away. Drivers heading east from Mývatn may prefer to depart early enough to clear the bridge before 08:00. Those travelling west from Egilsstaðir can aim to cross after 19:00 — entirely viable in late May and June when daylight lasts past midnight.
Road conditions in northeast Iceland can change quickly. Monitor road.is and safetravel.is for live updates before you set out. Our Iceland driving guide covers Route 1 conditions, road rules and F-road access, and it is worth reviewing your car rental terms ahead of a Ring Road trip.
The bridge reopens without restriction from 17 June 2026. Travellers arriving after that date will not be affected.