Route 73 (Þverárfellsvegur) is closed to all traffic just above Sauðárkrókur, in Northwest Iceland, following an incident on 1 October 2026 in which a milk lorry and its trailer overturned near the farm Skarð, blocking the road. The driver was taken to hospital for examination. Police in Northwest Iceland have confirmed that heavy equipment is required to remove the vehicles, and the road is expected to remain closed for a considerable time.
Why this matters for photographers
Route 73 is a useful corridor for photographers travelling through the Skagafjörður region, an area that offers compelling pastoral and mountain scenery in autumn light. With October bringing rapidly shortening days and golden-hour windows tightening, unexpected detours can meaningfully affect arrival times at planned shooting locations. The diversion via Route 1 over Vatnsskarð adds distance and should be factored into journey planning before setting out.
What photographers should do
- Avoid Route 73 near Sauðárkrókur until official confirmation of reopening; use Route 1 over Vatnsskarð as advised by police in Northwest Iceland.
- Check the latest road status on road.is before departing, as conditions and reopening times can change without advance notice.
- Rebuild your day’s schedule around the longer route now, rather than on arrival — losing time in failing autumn light can be difficult to recover.
For full guidance, see our Weather, Wind & Planning Tools for Iceland Photographers.
Source: RÚV English — https://www.ruv.is/english/2026-10-01-thverarfellsvegur-route-73-closed-for-some-time-after-milk-lorry-overturns-488539/