Almannaskarðsgöng

Almannaskarð Tunnel

Southwestern entrance
Overview
Location	Hornafjörður, Iceland
Route	1
Operation
Work begun	2004
Opened	2005
Operator	Vegagerðin
Traffic	Automotive
Vehicles per day	300
Technical
Length	1.3 km (0.81 mi)
Number of lanes	2
Highest elevation	82 m (269 ft)
Lowest elevation	39 m (128 ft)
Grade	4.6%

Almannaskarðsgöng is a tunnel along Route 1, located near Höfn (Hornafjörður) in Eastern Region in eastern Iceland. The tunnel measures exactly 1312 metres in length (although the sign rounds it off to 1300) and was opened on June 24, 2005. The tunnel passes under the narrow and steep pass Almannaskarð, between Hornafjörður and Lón district. The pass is still accessible in the summer time from the northern ramp (the southwest ramp is closed for public traffic), and there is a parking place with a beautiful view.

View for the pass

During the winter the road had to be closed because of regular snow, blocking traffic to and from the east of Iceland, so a new tunnel began construction in March 2004 and was completed in October 2004.^[1] The tunnel runs through 1150 metres of solid rock and some 162 metres of concrete portals, bringing the total length to 1312 metres. The road is two lanes wide, although there are three passing places in the tunnel for emergency traffic. The southern tunnel entrance is located at 39 metres above sea level whilst the northern tunnel entrance is located at 82 metres to the north, making the incline of the tunnel 4.6%.

References

Coordinates: 64°16′57″N 15°2′21″W / 64.28250°N 15.03917°W / 64.28250; -15.03917