The former mayor of Reykjavík says it is no surprise that the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin) prefers a bridge for Sundabraut rather than a tunnel. Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson says it is reasonable to consider a tunnel. The environmental report for Sundabraut will be published for consultation on the National Planning Agency’s portal next week.
Dagur B. Eggertsson, former mayor and now an MP for the Samfylking, says it is no surprise that Vegagerðin argues for a bridge rather than a tunnel. He was mayor when the state and city signed a declaration on building Sundabraut in 2021.
“Vegagerðin has held that view for a very long time, but residents on both sides of Elliðavogur called for a walking connection because they felt it better matched quality-of-life in those neighbourhoods.”
“This is a very large and important project, but also challenging to design in a way that does not adversely affect a large group of residents, even if it benefits a great many people nationwide.”
The Sundabraut project is decades old, but Dagur believes the 2021 declaration by the city and state played a key role in moving it forward.
“I haven’t seen the final report, though I’ve had some insight during drafting. I think the reason it has taken some time is that everyone has been careful. I hope this report provides a solid basis for the debate that now lies ahead.”
Various difficulties ahead
Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, an MP for the Sjálfstæðisflokkinn, tells mbl.is that establishing the Sundabraut connection is a priority—both because of traffic volumes and safety.
He and fellow MP Diljá Mist Einarsdóttir for Sjálfstæðisflokkinn, attended a public meeting in Grafarvogur where Sundabraut was discussed. Guðlaugur says residents there are worried about the project’s impact on the neighbourhood. Residents of Vogahverfi are also concerned. The planned bridge would cross Kleppsvík and come ashore in Vogahverfi.
He says public reaction to the project as currently conceived is very negative. “Everyone wants the connection, but many are worried about the design.”
When the plans are examined, a number of problems become apparent and questions arise that need answers. He also finds it remarkable that Iceland’s two largest transport projects—Sundabraut and those under the transport agreement—are not being coordinated.
“It is also clear that if the authorities proceed as currently intended, it will seriously harm the development land at Geldinganes, which is the best building land in the country and should have been developed long ago.”
Sundabraut is planned to run through a car-free neighbourhood in Grafarvogur, which Guðlaugur says residents will clearly dislike. It would also be impossible for residents of Mosfellsbær, Úlfarsárdalur and Grafarholt to access Sundabraut unless transport links through the Grafarvogur network are improved.
In the interview, Guðlaugur says it is reasonable to consider building a tunnel instead of a bridge. It would be roughly the same length as the Hvalfjörður Tunnel. “We paid off the Hvalfjörður Tunnel, built in 1998, in a much shorter time than originally planned. And if that tunnel was profitable, then a Sundabraut tunnel should be profitable too.”
Source: Ruv.is
