Road Infrastructure in Iceland: Colas Iceland on the Front Line in Reykjanes
Since March 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula in south‑west Iceland has experienced intense volcanic activity after nearly 800 years of calm. Successive eruptions – from Geldingadalir to Meradalir and then Litli Hrútur – have moved progressively closer to the coastal town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
In this evolving context, road infrastructure – roads, parking areas and access to strategic sites – has become central to issues of safety, mobility and territorial resilience. Colas Iceland plays a key role, repairing and adapting this infrastructure in an extreme environment to keep people and economies moving.
Volcanic Activity Putting Road Infrastructure to the Test
Growing Pressure on Grindavík and its Access Roads
From 2023 onwards, volcanic activity has focused along the Sundhnúkur fissure, close to Grindavík. In November 2023, a series of major earthquakes led to:
- the emergency evacuation of the town (nearly 4,000 inhabitants),
- ground ruptures affecting buildings, utility networks and road surfaces,
- significant damage to the road infrastructure providing access to the area.
Some residential neighbourhoods were then partially invaded by lava flows, further complicating traffic management, emergency response and infrastructure inspections. For public authorities and operators, maintaining safe, reliable road access rapidly became a top priority.
Blue Lagoon: Strategic Access Roads and Parking
The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s best‑known tourist attractions, has been forced to close several times due to eruptions, gas emissions and unstable ground conditions. The access roads and the main surface car park are essential to:
- welcome visitors in safe conditions,
- manage flows of buses, shuttles and service vehicles,
- sustain an economic activity that is vital for the region.
On 21 November 2024, a lava flow completely covered the Blue Lagoon’s main surface car park and a small technical basement. Thanks to protective barriers built beforehand, the main buildings and pools were preserved. However, the local road infrastructure – access roads, internal circulation and parking capacity – had to be entirely reconsidered to restore operations.
Colas Iceland's Road Infrastructure Works in Reykjanes
Redesigning the Blue Lagoon Parking Facilities
Following the destruction of the existing car park, Colas Iceland was commissioned to create new parking capacity near the site. The challenge was to design road infrastructure that is:
- sized for intense tourist traffic throughout the year,
- compatible with a cold, wet and highly variable climate,
- integrated into a wider safety and evacuation scheme.
Within this project, Colas Iceland deployed high‑performance surfacing solutions tailored to Icelandic conditions. These solutions help to:
- limit standing water and surface runoff,
- improve user comfort and safety by enhancing skid resistance,
- better protect the pavement structure against heavy rainfall and freeze–thaw cycles.
This new layout enables the Blue Lagoon to quickly regain safe accessibility while improving the long‑term resilience of its road infrastructure and parking facilities.
Road Repair and Maintaining Access to Grindavík
Beyond the Blue Lagoon, Colas Iceland has also been mobilised to carry out:
- road repair and resurfacing on damaged streets in Grindavík,
- reprofiling and resurfacing of a section of the main road leading to the town.
These works aim to guarantee at least a minimum level of service on critical axes used by residents, emergency services and technical teams responsible for monitoring eruptions and protective structures.
In parallel, the Icelandic authorities are building lava diversion barriers around Grindavík, the Blue Lagoon and the nearby geothermal power plant. These structures interact closely with the road infrastructure, redefining traffic patterns, access routes and safety perimeters. Coordination between earthworks, road maintenance and protection works is therefore essential to secure mobility in real time.
Colas, a Long-Term Partner for Resilient Road Infrastructure
On the Reykjanes Peninsula, volcanic eruptions have profoundly transformed the organisation of the territory. By working on the road infrastructure serving Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon, Colas Iceland demonstrates the Group’s ability to:
- secure and repair roads and parking facilities in a crisis context,
- adapt technical solutions to extreme geological and climatic constraints,
- contribute to the resilience of critical sites for both local communities and the regional economy.
For local authorities, infrastructure owners and operators, this Icelandic case study highlights how well‑designed, well‑maintained road infrastructure is a cornerstone of natural risk management and territorial resilience.
Colas stands alongside its partners over the long term, from emergency road repair to the design of sustainable road construction programmes that anticipate future hazards. Decision‑makers wishing to strengthen the resilience of their own networks can draw on this experience to build safer, more reliable and more sustainable road infrastructure.
