Mountain roads - Froad
Mountain roads and F-Road are roads that access the highlands of Iceland. They are breathtaking routes, whilst also being very challenging and, in some cases, dangerous. These F-roads can contain a lot of loose gravel and some of them can also contain quite deep and wide rivers.
To drive on F-roads, you are required to drive a 4x4 vehicle which most visitors rent, in case of F-roads with rivers, it is required that you have a raised 4x4.
Due to weather conditions and safety, F-roads are not open all year round. In fact, they are only open for a short period of time. Some of the roads open in June, whilst others open in July. They will usually close around mid to late September.
The opening of F-roads is determined by the amount of snow cover on the roads and how much damage the roads have taken during the winter months. The roads need to be in good condition to withstand the amount of driving that takes place during their opening.
Opening of mountain roads in Iceland.
The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration publishes every year a brochure for foreign travellers, called "Mountain roads" (2022). This brochure contains information on approximate opening dates of mountain roads in Iceland.
Condition and Opening of Mountain Roads
https://snipboard.io/9VJAcl.jpg
During the closing period there are two typical indications for these roads:
Impassable/Closed: Snow cover thick enough to make road impassable for normal vehicles. This description is also valid when a road is impassable for other reasons, such as landslides, water floods etc. No winter monitoring of road conditions. After the first autumn snowfall, the road conditions are set as „impassable/closed“. Driving on roads in such conditions requires special vehicles and local knowledge. Entering is at own risk and may involve personal costs if emergency occurs.
It is possible to drive on these roads but with superjeps or special cars. A typical 4x4 touring car cannot drive on these roads, insurance policies may not be valid and should therefore be avoided.
No passage for motor vehicles: Road is closed for traffic, primarily to avoid road damage during the seasonal thawing period, or for other preventive reasons (indicated by the no vehicles sign B01.11)
In this case the prohibition is mandatory.
Closures on Waze
On the Waze app seasonal mountain road closures are updated daily, this is a great feature for wazers compared to other apps because it is aimed at user safety and compliance with Icelandic laws.
It's always necessary for the users to check the official map: Road Conditions and Weather but the advantage of avoiding routing on these roads is an important peculiarity for the waze app in Iceland.
https://snipboard.io/orfxZv.jpg
Routing Alerts in Waze
Thanks to the continuous development of the app by the waze staff, from this year many alerts for user safety have been introduced on the map
At each intersection of a Froads with a normal road (asphalted or unpaved), the indication "only 4x4" has been added to the turn instructions:
In the visual instructions: F88 Shield / Only 4x4
In the TTS: F88 Öskjuleið / Only 4x4
For roads, not expressly named Froad, such as the Svalvogavegur (622), where the use of a 4x4 is required, the indication "only 4x4" has been added to the turn instructions:
In the visual instructions: 622 Shield / Only 4x4
In the TTS: 622 Svalvogavegur / Only 4x4
For single lane tunnels as Strákagöng where there is the rule: if you meet oncoming traffic and the passing place is on your side (your right), you are required by law to stop and let the oncoming traffic pass by, the indication "SINGLE LANE TUNNEL" has been added to the turn instructions
For single lane bridges, the indication "Single lane bridge" has been added to the turn instructions.
To drive on F-roads, you are required to drive a 4x4 vehicle which most visitors rent, in case of F-roads with rivers, it is required that you have a raised 4x4.
Due to weather conditions and safety, F-roads are not open all year round. In fact, they are only open for a short period of time. Some of the roads open in June, whilst others open in July. They will usually close around mid to late September.
The opening of F-roads is determined by the amount of snow cover on the roads and how much damage the roads have taken during the winter months. The roads need to be in good condition to withstand the amount of driving that takes place during their opening.
Opening of mountain roads in Iceland.
The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration publishes every year a brochure for foreign travellers, called "Mountain roads" (2022). This brochure contains information on approximate opening dates of mountain roads in Iceland.
Condition and Opening of Mountain Roads
https://snipboard.io/9VJAcl.jpg
During the closing period there are two typical indications for these roads:
Impassable/Closed: Snow cover thick enough to make road impassable for normal vehicles. This description is also valid when a road is impassable for other reasons, such as landslides, water floods etc. No winter monitoring of road conditions. After the first autumn snowfall, the road conditions are set as „impassable/closed“. Driving on roads in such conditions requires special vehicles and local knowledge. Entering is at own risk and may involve personal costs if emergency occurs.
It is possible to drive on these roads but with superjeps or special cars. A typical 4x4 touring car cannot drive on these roads, insurance policies may not be valid and should therefore be avoided.
No passage for motor vehicles: Road is closed for traffic, primarily to avoid road damage during the seasonal thawing period, or for other preventive reasons (indicated by the no vehicles sign B01.11)
In this case the prohibition is mandatory.
Closures on Waze
On the Waze app seasonal mountain road closures are updated daily, this is a great feature for wazers compared to other apps because it is aimed at user safety and compliance with Icelandic laws.
It's always necessary for the users to check the official map: Road Conditions and Weather but the advantage of avoiding routing on these roads is an important peculiarity for the waze app in Iceland.
https://snipboard.io/orfxZv.jpg
Routing Alerts in Waze
Thanks to the continuous development of the app by the waze staff, from this year many alerts for user safety have been introduced on the map
At each intersection of a Froads with a normal road (asphalted or unpaved), the indication "only 4x4" has been added to the turn instructions:
In the visual instructions: F88 Shield / Only 4x4
In the TTS: F88 Öskjuleið / Only 4x4
For roads, not expressly named Froad, such as the Svalvogavegur (622), where the use of a 4x4 is required, the indication "only 4x4" has been added to the turn instructions:
In the visual instructions: 622 Shield / Only 4x4
In the TTS: 622 Svalvogavegur / Only 4x4
For single lane tunnels as Strákagöng where there is the rule: if you meet oncoming traffic and the passing place is on your side (your right), you are required by law to stop and let the oncoming traffic pass by, the indication "SINGLE LANE TUNNEL" has been added to the turn instructions
For single lane bridges, the indication "Single lane bridge" has been added to the turn instructions.
