The world’s largest glass bridge to be built in Hungary

A 430 metre long glass-bottomed bridge was inaugurated in China in the summer of 2016. And now, according to atlatszo.hu, the Hungarian city of Sátoraljaújhely plans to break the world record with a 700 metre long glass bridge.

Everyone was shocked by Magyar Közlöny’s (Hungarian Journal) issue published on the 21^st of February, because it covers incredible future investments. One of the most surprising projects is the establishment of a 3 billion forint (~9,743,000 euros) worth Space Centre in Gyulaháza. The other big news concerns an extraordinary construction. Sátoraljaújhely has set aside 2.5 billion forints (~8,120,000 euros) to enhance its touristic attractiveness by building a glass bridge between Szár Mountain and Vár Mountain, and by developing its historic castle.

There haven’t been too many articles about the glass bridge until the release of the journal, although a video was shared on the website of the Municipality of Sátoraljaújhely in 2015, but it is centred around a suspension bridge, definitely not a glass bridge.

Two municipal documents mention some data about the glass bridge. Mayor Péter Szamosvölgyi (Fidesz-KDNP) touched upon the project cursorily at a representatives’ session held on the 15^th of December, 2016.

“We have made a bid worth 3 billion forints for the development and presentation of the castle, and the suspension bridge OR glass bridge connecting Szár Mountain and Vár Mountain. The government has seen the projects, which don’t only include us naturally, but every Tokaj-Hegyalja project supported by the Touristic Agency and the Tokaj Development Council. (…) I could say that we are within reach of me being able to tell my fellow representatives and the locals that we can start planning public purchases and then the execution, which I believe would signify the centuries-old success of this city. Meaning all the tenders in a bunch.”

Sátoraljaújhely

The mayor spoke about the glass bridge a bit more in detail at a public hearing on the 7^th of December, 2016. “Most of you have probably heard that the municipality is planning to execute a development that would connect Szár Mountain and Vár Mountain with a suspension bridge. It would be 700 metres long, which would be a word record, and its bottom would be built from plexi so that you could see the nature no matter where you looked. The current world record, found in China, is 500 metres. We already have the theoretical support for the tender. However, I don’t dare to promise this to you, because this investment would cost 2-3 billion forints.

I won’t cross it, just like others who don’t like extreme experiences, but those who do will come to see it, because it will be the longest and most interesting bridge. These people will pay to pass through it. And once they’re here, they will eat, drink, sleep, look around the neighbourhood, taste our wines etc. This would mean such an income for the municipality that we could profit as much as Hajdúszoboszló profits from the thermal bath or Mezőkövesd from the Zsóry Bath.

All in all, we would have money for everything. It wouldn’t be a problem anymore if someone called to ask for a bench in front of the cemetery. We would ask whether or not the person wanted a green or red bench, because this would be the question, not the financial part. We came up with this development, because it would be a great source of income for Sátoraljaújhely in case of half a million visitors/year.”

Here is the safety test of the Chinese 430 metre long glass bridge. Now, let’s imagine Lőrinc Mészáros (mayor of Viktor Orbán’s hometown) building such a bridge near Sátoraljaújhely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFiYNRDTj6E

Photo: Zemplén TV / Hegyalja.info, www.satoraljaujhely.hu

ce: bm

Source: https://vastagbor.atlatszo.hu/