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🇮🇸 Iceland /Environment & Climate

Iceland's Capital Region to Implement Traffic Restrictions for Solar Eclipse

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Road closures and traffic controls will be in place across the capital region of Iceland on August 12 for a solar eclipse.
  • The closures will affect Seltjarnarnes, Reykjavík, and Garðabær, with specific times and locations detailed.
  • The eclipse will be visible in Iceland for approximately 46 seconds to just over a minute.

Significant traffic restrictions will be implemented across Iceland's capital region on August 12 to accommodate viewing of an upcoming solar eclipse. The police department for the capital area announced that various roads in Seltjarnarnes, Reykjavík, and Garðabær will be subject to closures and traffic management.

In Seltjarnarnes, closures will affect Suðurströnd and Norðurströnd, with specific access points restricted between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Notably, access to Grótta island will be completely blocked from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. due to high tide during the eclipse.

Reykjavík will see closures on Suðurgata and Ægisíða, impacting traffic flow from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. In Garðabær, traffic on Álftanesvegur and Suðurnesjavegur will be managed with one-way systems from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The total solar eclipse is expected to last between 46 seconds and one minute and eight seconds within the capital region. The eclipse will be visible across western Iceland, including the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes peninsula, and the Reykjanes peninsula. Information regarding the closures and other eclipse-related details is available on solmyrkvi2026.is and the Road Administration's website.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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