Gigantic motorway renovation wave in Hungary: 2 major motorways concerned

The gigantic wave of motorway renovations continues in Hungary. This year’s renovations will start on the M7 motorway, the Hungarian Concession Infrastructure Development Plc. (Magyar Koncessziós Infrastruktúra Fejlesztő Zrt., MKIF) announced. Next week, renovations will start on the M3 motorway, where the bulk of the work is expected this year.

On Wednesday 20 March, this year’s works will start on the M7 with the construction of diversions at three locations, the Kőröshegyi viaduct, Balatonlelle and Becsehely, Világgazdaság reports. This week, preparatory work will also begin on the M7 to replace the damaged pavement, according to the MKIF, whose workers will also start levelling the M3 motorway next week.

Renovations during the Easter period

Source: Magyar Közút

Most of the renovations this year will be on the M3 motorway. However, it has been indicated that on the M1, due to the increased traffic over Easter, they will wait until after the holiday to carry out the renovations and will not be working on the M1 until the following week. As last year, work on the M7 motorway between Budapest and Lake Balaton will be suspended during the holiday period.

In 2024, the company’s staff will continue to work on 9 controlled-access highways: the M1, M15, M3, M30, M35, M4, M7, M70 and M8.

Hungarian history’s largest motorway upgrade

Source: Magyar Közút

The company points out that the largest motorway upgrade in Hungary’s history started last year and will last until 2025. This affects a total of 538 kilometres, or 43% of the roads they operate and maintain. In 2023, 3.6 million square metres of old, damaged pavement were replaced with new asphalt, which involved the use of 500,000 tonnes of asphalt.

Last year, 19% of the entire main line was renewed, including 106 bridges and overpasses, and a similar level of renewal is planned for 2024, they wrote. They added that they estimate that another 20% of the main line is expected to receive new asphalt this year.

Where necessary, deeper layers will also be renovated and repaired. In addition, 110 bridges and overpasses will be repaired in 2024.

Renovation of rest areas

Rest area at Nagycenk on the M85 motorway between Sopron and Csorna on 16 December 2020. Source: MTI/Filep István

The renovation of the rest areas also started last August. The buildings’ mechanical systems, internal cladding, sanitary fittings, doors and roofs are being replaced, and the external façades are being renewed. New furniture will be installed and, where necessary, new asphalt will replace old paving in the car parks and paths to the rest areas.

It has been reported by the MKIF that some junctions will also need resurfacing this year. For this reason, there may be closures and diversions at several junctions until the end of this year’s works, probably until November.

“Last year, our colleagues completed more than 400 diversions across the country due to levelling work, and there will be work in many places in 2024. We urge drivers to slow down at diversions, obey posted signs and obey the Highway Code at all times,” they ask.

Read also:

• Massive Vienna-Budapest motorway expansion project starts soon
• Here is the launch date of the new Hungarian motorway ticket