The effects of road infrastructure improvement on work travel in Northern Iceland

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWork travel is an important alternative to out-migration in rural areas characterized by a limited range of jobs. The size of local labour markets is determined in part by geography and tradition, but advances in transportation have the potential to move people and communities closer together and transform established mindscapes. In Iceland, the dispersion of the rural population, a challenging terrain, and unpredictable weather has made road infrastructure improvements a key component in regional development strategies. A large-scale tunnel project completed in 2010 was intended to strengthen a vulnerable rural area on the northern coast and expand the urban labour market of the regional centre of Akureyri. Traffic surveys and resident surveys conducted before and after the tunnels show a substantial increase in 17-34 km work travel between rural communities. Work travel 61-77 km to and from the regional centre did however not increase. The average length of work travel has shortened but the increase in commuting yielded a net increase in total km commuted. The tunnels increased work travel irrespective of age and education, but increased work travel by women with children in the household in particular. The results suggest that large-scale road infrastructure improvements may substantially strengthen rural labour markets within a driving distance of 15-30 min, but may not extend the edge of micropolitan labour markets 45-60 min from an urban centre of less than 20 thousand inhabitants.

Transport geography in Iceland

“…More research is needed, perhaps utilizing simulation models, to determine the effectiveness of Iceland's domestic air network. Infrastructure weaknesses in general, beyond the urban core, have been identified by several studies, especially in the northern and eastern regions of Iceland related to work commuting and access to tourist sites ( Bjarnason, 2014 ; Reynisson et al, 2012 ; Gunnarsson, 2004 ). Analysis of the potential impact of a reduced domestic air network on these regions would be helpful in shaping rural policy and planning strategies for the future.…”

Prosper or perish? The development of Icelandic fishing villages after the privatisation of fishing rights

“…Some might face abandonment eventually. Depopulation, occasionally resulting in abandoned places, has not been uncommon in Iceland (Bjarnason 2014b, Thorarinsson 1961, Huijbens 2012, Valsson et al, 2013. To what extent fisheries management can be made responsible for demographic development cannot be answered; yet it has been discussed frequently (Carothers and Chambers 2012).…”

Vinnusókn til höfuðborgarsvæðisins frá öðrum byggðarlögum á Suðvesturlandi

“…Það kann að hluta til að skýrast af hefðbundinni verkaskiptingu kynjanna þar sem maeður bera oft meiri ábyrgð á heimilishaldi og skólagöngu barna (Andrea Hjálmsdóttir og Atli Hafþórsson, 2015; Dobbs, 2007). Þannig jókst vinnusókn yngri maeðra út fyrir heimabyggð sérstaklega við opnun Héðinsfjarðarganganna sem styttu vegalengdina milli Ólafsfjarðar og Siglufjarðar úr 60 km að sumri og 230 km að vetri í 17 km allan ársins hring (Þóroddur Bjarnason, 2014).…”

“…Þannig jókst vinnusókn kvenna frá byggðakjörnum Fjallabyggðar eftir opnun Héðinsfjarðarganganna árið 2010 og kynjamunur í slíkri vinnusókn var ekki lengur marktaekur (Andrea Hjálmsdóttir og Atli Hafþórsson, 2015). Þessi aukning í vinnusókn kvenna mátti að öllu leyti rekja til vinnusóknar kvenna með börn undir 18 ára aldri á heimilinu milli Ólafsfjarðar og Siglufjarðar (Þóroddur Bjarnason, 2014). Í Vogum á Vatnsleysuströnd er vinnusókn karla og kvenna álíka mikil út fyrir heimabyggð en fjarlaegðin milli Ólafsfjarðar og Siglufjarðar eftir opnun Héðinsfjarðarganganna (18 km) er svipuð fjarlaegðinni frá Vogum til Hafnarfjarðar annars vegar (24 km) og Keflavíkur hins vegar (14 km).…”