Breaking, PHOTOS: Budapest’s Chain Bridge opened to public with picnic!

Budapest’s landmark, the Chain Bridge was reopened to the public on Friday, after a 2.5-year renovation project.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said the renovation had been completed “in a timely manner and not exceeding the budget” of HUF 26.7 billion (EUR 68 million). “The Chain Bridge is a miracle to be admired by all Budapest residents and the city’s visitors,” the mayor said before symbolically handing over a spanner used in the operations to János Fazekas, the facility’s manager, MTI wrote.

24.hu wrote that passengers may use the renovated bridge with public transport, taxi, bicycle, motorcycle and moped. Furthermore, pedestrians will be able to commute between Buda and Pest on Hungary’s first brick bridge. Karácsony said it was a symbol of “unity and belonging together”. He added that the Chain Bridge started the unification of the city and the birth of the nation’s capital. The original deadline for the revamp was 17 November, the 150th anniversary of Budapest’s birth. But they managed to complete the project months before the end date.

Photo: MTI

Getting the symbolic key of the bridge. Photo: MTI

The mayor and the bridge:

Chain Bridge decorative lighting at night:

Photo: MTI

Chain Bridge completed before the deadline: celebration started

He said the project was overshadowed by pity political debates. He added that they still wait for the government’s financial contribution to reach billions of HUF. He highlighted that the renewed Chain Bridge will remain closed for cars because that is what the citizens wanted, based on the consultations they launched.

Katalin Walter, the CEO of the BKK, Budapest’s public transport company, said that thanks to the new traffic order, 20 thousand fewer vehicles would use the overpass. And that is how they protect the bridge. Budapest will celebrate the opening of the revamped Chain Bridge with a picnic which will start at 6 PM today. Below are the details and the explanation of the numbers:

1. Street music
2. Lemonade and pretzel
3. Ice cream
4. Programs for kids in a tent
5. Light lions
6. LEGO Chain Bridge

And the video of the press conference:

And here is an animation about the revamp project: a story told by the Chain Bridge’s lion: