A bridge over Vatnsdalsá collapsed shortly before noon today as a truck was passing, Vísir reports.
Luckily, the truck driver escaped with minor injuries. “The truck is on the bridge, and the bridge is in the river,” reports Superintendent Kristján Þorbjörnsson in Blönduós. The bridge is located by Grímstunga in Vatnsdalur, near Blönduós.
According to Kristján, the truck was transporting clay to a road construction site. The bridge bore no sign of being unstable. “I don’t believe it did. It’s old, of course,” having reached the age of 60.
“Cars have changed considerably in 60 years,” Kristján explains, “especially the trucks that now have so many wheels. Sixty years ago, there were only two-axle vehicles and three-axle vehicles were almost unheard of, except for some army trucks.”
Kristján doesn’t expect the incident to have a major impact in the region, but it will affect travel plans for some tourists. “You used to be able to drive all the way around Vatnsdalur, but you no longer can.” He expects a new bridge to be constructed in the same location.
