Road collapses after water pipe bursts, one of Budapest’s busiest routes paralysed – photos

Traffic in Budapest was severely disrupted on Monday morning after a major water pipe burst led to a road collapse on Róbert Károly Boulevard in the city’s 13th district.

According to Budapest Police Headquarters, two outer lanes heading towards the Árpád Bridge were immediately closed following the incident, causing significant congestion on one of the capital’s key transport arteries.

Burst water main behind the incident in Budapest

The disruption was caused by damage to a 300 mm diameter pressurised water pipe near number 40 on Róbert Károly Boulevard. The failure led to the collapse of the road surface early on Monday, forcing authorities to act quickly to secure the area.

Water utility provider Fővárosi Vízművek confirmed that repair works began shortly after the incident, with teams working to isolate the damaged section and replace the affected pipe.

Traffic restrictions and growing congestion

The lane closures affect the stretch between Pap Károly Street and Teve Street, with only a single lane currently open towards Árpád Bridge. Police are on site directing traffic, but motorists are being warned to expect heavy delays throughout the morning.

Authorities initially indicated that restrictions could expand to all three lanes if necessary, though current updates confirm that two lanes remain closed.

Temporary water shortages and emergency measures

The pipe burst has also caused temporary water outages in nearby buildings between numbers 34 and 40 on the boulevard.

To mitigate the disruption, a temporary water access point has been set up near Pap Károly Street 4–6, providing residents with emergency access to drinking water.

Repairs expected to last until afternoon

Experts from Fővárosi Vízművek have already isolated the damaged pipeline and are carrying out repairs and damage control. While the situation is evolving, current estimates suggest that works could be completed by the afternoon, although authorities caution that this timeline is indicative.

Until repairs are finalised, traffic restrictions will remain in place, and commuters are advised to avoid the area if possible.

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