The ice road over Lule River in northern Sweden has been closed due to dangerously high water flow, according to reports from March 15-16, 2026. The ice route between Avan and Sunderbyn was shut down over the weekend following severe weather that moved into the area on Friday. The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) indicated the road could potentially reopen at 16:00 on Monday, though officials cautioned this timeline remains uncertain.
The closure comes despite what ice road maintainer Robert Backlund described as exceptional winter conditions, with ice thickness sufficient to support 12-ton trucks. Backlund, who maintains eight kilometers of ice road from the mainland to Hindersön under contract with Luleå Municipality, called this winter's ice quality the best in 30-40 years. The 30-kilometer network of ice roads in Luleå's archipelago, which serves both residents and tourists, can be temporarily closed during heavy snowfall, severe fog, or significant water flow events like the current situation.
The road could potentially reopen at 16:00 on Monday, though officials cautioned this timeline remains uncertain.
This winter's ice quality [is] the best in 30-40 years.