For anyone arriving in southwest Iceland, Route 41, known locally as Reykjanesbraut, will likely be their earliest encounter with Icelandic infrastructure. Stretching along the northern edge of the Reykjanes Peninsula, this road forms the direct link between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavik’s city area. Yet its history speaks to much more than simple transit. Over the last century, changes along Route 41 have reflected shifts in Iceland’s priorities, from early road-building to the demands of modern travel.
A century-old pathway with evolving names
The origins of Route 41 date back to 1912, when the first road, then called Keflavíkurvegur, meaning ‘Keflavík Road’, was completed. At that time, connections between settlements south and west of Reykjavík were limited. Keflavíkurvegur’s original path now exists mostly as Route 424, winding through Njarðvík and Keflavík itself.
Substantial upgrades began in the 1960s, as Iceland prioritised solid, year-round transport links. By 1965, a new paved route replaced the older road. The use of reinforced concrete for some stretches was notable, in part due to industrial developments elsewhere, the concrete industry was gaining prominence around Akranes. For several years, between 1965 and 1972, a toll funded the cost of construction.
Shaping daily life and travel
Today, Route 41 is not just a line on the map. It is the primary artery for thousands of commuters living in the expanding suburbs around Reykjavik, such as Hafnarfjörður. Over time, growing traffic led to a transformation. Beginning in 2003, the non-urban stretches were rebuilt as dual carriageways, ultimately spanning four lanes with grade separated junctions to improve safety and flow. These developments reached a milestone in October 2008, when the long non-urban section between Keflavík and Hafnarfjörður was fully expanded.
Further efforts have focused on the urban sections. In 2021, the stretch through Hafnarfjörður gained similar upgrades, ensuring consistency in road quality. By 2025, the last remaining bottleneck past the Straumsvík aluminium smelter was widened, making the entire route a modern dual carriageway from Keflavík to Hafnarfjörður.
Reykjanesbraut is also an integral part of Reykjavík city’s road system. The national Route 41 designation includes much of Sæbraut, a local road beginning at the northern end of Reykjanesbraut, effectively tying airport approach and urban commutes into the same network.
From its earliest days as a rural track to its current status as a busy highway, Route 41 mirrors Iceland’s broader story of development, linking international visitors and local residents alike.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
