Construction of Hungary’s southernmost Danube bridge to start next year

Numerous bids have been received for the forthcoming construction of the Danube bridge, which is scheduled to start next year.

The tender deadline for the Danube bridge and the associated road network in Mohács lapsed on Thursday, yielding several bids. The evaluation process for the contractor selection is expected to conclude in spring, as reported by bama.hu. János Hargitai, Member of Parliament for the region and Ministerial Commissioner for the Mohács 500 programme, conveyed that increased bid submissions enhance competition. However, due to stringent rules governing public procurement, he refrained from disclosing further details.

Hargitai noted that the contractor selection evaluation should wrap up in spring, allowing construction of the Danube bridge to follow swiftly after completing the Kalocsa bridge by mid-next year.

The paper has looked into the call for tenders and found the decision typically takes 60 days from the tender submission deadline, with a potential two-month extension. Given the substantial scale of this project, reaching into the hundreds of billions of euros, an extension is nearly inevitable. Consequently, the decision on the contracting company is anticipated by March 2024.

The evaluation criteria consists of a broad spectrum, including the firms’ suitability and their staff, professional experience, financial and economic compliance, and ensuring best value for money.

We understand that the investment is anticipated to be financed from domestic budgetary resources, so its launch is independent of potential funds from Brussel

– the paper notes, adding that the tender is structured in three phases: constructing the connecting road network on the island and urban sides, and building the bridge itself. Work is set to start simultaneously at each site, with the contractor allotted fifty months from contract signing to completion.

Construction phases of the new Danube bridge

The 57 motorway section from the M6 motorway to the “Mohács” roundabout will transform into a dual carriageway, with a tight 21-month timeframe for completion. The northern edge construction near the battlefield, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mohács in 2026, is to be done without traffic disruptions.

The current 2×1-lane 57 will be converted into a 2×2-lane divided carriageway from the new town roundabout to the M6 motorway. A two-lane turbo roundabout will be incorporated, with a 2.7 km dual carriageway from Mohács border to the bridge. Construction will extend from the existing municipal road to the project’s completion, after its demolition.

As previously noted, Tisza’s new bridge construction is scheduled to commence in 2025, detailed in this video here.