Budapest Airport could see major changes in the coming years as new public procurement procedures point to large-scale infrastructure and access-road developments around Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The planned works include a new road network, a flyover, expanded parking capacity and the reconstruction of key utility systems serving Hungary’s main international airport.
Two tenders point to major changes at Budapest Airport
According to Magyar Építők, two separate procurement procedures indicate that Budapest Airport and its surrounding infrastructure may be on the verge of significant transformation.
The first procedure concerns a 48-month framework agreement signed by Budapest Airport, the operator of Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The agreement covers two main areas: design tasks related to buildings, structural elements and other facilities, as well as infrastructure planning tasks.
The orders will not be launched automatically. Instead, specific projects may be started through renewed competitions under the framework agreement. Companies included in the framework will then be invited to submit fresh offers for individual assignments.
Budapest Airport expects around five to ten such competitions each year. These could support the preparation of development, reconstruction and medium-term investment projects across the airport’s building stock.
Budapest Airport buildings may also be upgraded
The building-related part of the framework agreement could cover several phases of project preparation, from initial concepts and permitting documents to full construction plans.
According to the procurement notice, future Budapest Airport projects may include partial or complete building renovations, as well as new construction works. Some of these developments could involve facilities with a floor area of 6,700 to 7,000 square metres, or even larger.
For international readers, Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport is Hungary’s main air gateway and the primary airport serving the capital. As a result, any major change to access roads, parking facilities or terminal-area infrastructure could directly affect passengers, airport staff, service providers and logistics operators.
Infrastructure capacity needs to be expanded
The second part of the framework agreement focuses on infrastructure planning. This may include projects linked to Budapest Airport’s utility and transport networks.
At present, the airport area contains more than 20 kilometres of drinking water and sewage networks, as well as an electrical utility network exceeding 100 kilometres. Planning tasks may be ordered for the reconstruction or development of these systems, in some cases along sections of at least 700 metres.
The framework may also cover the expansion or renovation of Budapest Airport’s surface parking areas, which currently provide around 10,000 spaces. In addition, it may include planning work for the airport’s internal road network, which is already more than 20 kilometres long and generally has at least two lanes. Individual road-related tasks may concern sections of at least 300 linear metres.
New road network and flyover planned at Budapest Airport
A separate procurement procedure has also appeared in the EU public procurement notice for the reconstruction of the road leading to Budapest Airport and the complete related utility network.
Under this tender, around 53,000 square metres of new road network could be built. The new roads would connect to the existing arrivals and departures levels. Collector roads, service roads and bypass roads may be constructed with two or three traffic lanes.
A new flyover is also planned to connect the existing and new network elements. The structure would have a clear span of 16.6 metres.
The car parks currently located close to the terminal are expected to be demolished. To replace them, a new parking facility with around 1,000 spaces may be built and connected to the road at the airport’s “J” gate.
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Utility networks to be rebuilt while operations continue
The construction tender also covers the complete reconstruction of utility systems within the affected area. This includes the main stormwater drainage network, sewage drainage, drinking water and fire water systems, as well as IT and electrical networks and the related substructures.
The procurement notice states that materials from the demolition of the road structure must be fully recycled. The winning contractor will also have to maintain traffic flow and ensure that airport operations continue throughout the works.
The planned Budapest Airport developments therefore go far beyond road construction. If implemented, they could significantly reshape access to Hungary’s busiest airport while also preparing its surrounding infrastructure for higher capacity and future growth.
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