Langahlíð set for major redesign

Ritstjórn
Construction on Langahlíð will span the area from Eskitorg to Miklabraut. Mynd/Róbert Reynisson
aerial photo of streets, houses and vegetation in the Hlíðahverfi neighborhood in Reykjavík.

Langahlíð will get a fresh new look and become a beautiful city street with planned construction beginning this spring. The changes aim to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists while making the area safer and more pleasant. Construction will span the area from Eskitorg to Miklabraut.

Major utilities project

This major utilities project will also transform the street's appearance as the median strip is removed and dedicated biking paths are installed on both sides of the street. Sidewalks will run closest to property boundaries, while the biking paths will be one-way lanes positioned next to the sidewalks.

street photo

Before and after: Biking paths already exist there, but they're being rebuilt as permanent features. The image below shows the planned design. The biking path appears in red for clarity but won't actually be red when construction is complete.

An illustration of the redesigned street.

The design will also incorporate Sustainable Drainage Systems that reduce strain on the sewer system and filter stormwater, meaning vegetation will line both sides of the street between the roadway and paths.

Drápuhlíð west of Langahlíð to be redeveloped

Drápuhlíð west of Langahlíð will also be redeveloped, including both its utilities and the street itself. The final design hasn't been determined yet, but a workshop with a randomly selected group of residents is planned. The design may change from what was previously presented based on additional input from residents.

A joint construction tender will be issued with Veitur Utilities. Reykjavík City's estimated cost is 525 million króna, with a total project cost of 1.17 billion króna. At its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, the City Executive Council authorized the Department of Environment & Planning to begin the procurement procedure for the project.

Keeping the community informed

Construction is expected to begin in April and continue through 2027. Once a contractor is selected, the project details will be finalized. As the start date approaches, Veitur Utilities and Reykjavík City will work together to inform the local community about detours and other disruptions inherent to major construction projects.