Betri samgöngur has issued a call for tenders for the second phase of the Fossvogur Bridge project, which involves the construction of the bridge itself. The evaluation committee will open the tenders on August 26.
Construction Underway
Work on the first phase of the project, involving shore protection and land reclamation, began in January 2025. Landfill construction crews are making substantial progress on the Kópavogur side, i.e. the southern side of the bay, and plan to complete this part of the project on the south side by July 2025. Landfill operations have begun on the Reykjavík side and the northern side and are scheduled to be completed by November 2026.
The third and final phase of the Fossvogur crossing, encompassing road construction, utilities, and surface finishing, is expected to go out to tender before the end of the year. The timeline anticipates that all phases will be completed by autumn 2028.
The First Step of Borgarlínan BRT
EFLA and BEAM Architects won first prize in the 2021 design competition for Fossvogur Bridge and have since continued to develop the design. The bridge, named Alda, is a key project in the vision for sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, connecting recreational areas, residential zones, and urban planning elements.
The bridge is a key element in the first phase of the Borgarlínan Bus Rapid Transit system, linking the municipalities of Reykjavík and Kópavogur across Fossvogur. It is designed for Borgarlínan buses, regular city buses, pedestrians, and cyclists and includes priority lanes for emergency vehicles. It will be 270 meters long and up to 17 meters wide. The main load-bearing structure of the bridge deck will consist of steel beams in five spans, supported by concrete piers founded on drilled steel pipe piles anchored to the bedrock beneath Fossvogur to ensure stability. Viewpoints, known as “álfasteinar” (e., elfstones), and lighting integrated into the railings and under the bridge deck are part of the design.