Ongoing road improvements on Vestfjarðavegur (Route 60) through the southern Westfjords remain incomplete, with the final bridge and finishing works now scheduled for autumn 2028. The project, which has been under way in Gufudalssveit since 2019, has run significantly over both its original timeline and its initial budget of ISK 7.2 billion. Until the bridge is built, drivers must continue to use the existing mountain road, where speed limits drop to 20 km/h in places.
Why this matters for photographers
Route 60 is one of the primary access routes into the southern Westfjords, a region that draws photographers to locations including Dynjandi waterfall and the surrounding fjord landscapes. The slow, gravel mountain road over Ódrjúgsháls adds considerable time to journey planning, which is especially relevant during the short window of useful autumn light in September and October. Photographers should factor the 20 km/h restrictions into their drive times and not assume conditions allow for swift transit between shooting locations.
What photographers should do
- Check the latest road status on vegagerdin.is before travelling Route 60, as active construction zones can bring temporary closures or additional restrictions at short notice.
- Add a substantial time buffer to any drive along this section of Route 60 — the mountain road section is slower than map applications typically estimate.
- Plan overnight stops within the Westfjords rather than attempting to cover long distances in a single day, particularly during the shorter daylight hours of autumn and winter.
For full guidance, see our Photographing the Westfjords: Iceland’s Forgotten Region.
Source: RÚV English — https://www.ruv.is/english/2026-09-21-another-year-of-20-kmh-on-a-mountain-road-487593/