More than 500 km upgraded: Greatest motorway upgrade in Hungary’s history resumes

One of Hungary’s most significant infrastructure developments, the extensive reconstruction of the country’s motorways, will continue on the 17th of March 2025. MKIF Ltd., the company responsible for maintaining Hungary’s motorways, has been working since 2022 to upgrade and make a significant part of the country’s motorway network safer. The work carried out so far is massive: more than 500 kilometres of road have been upgraded and the project is entering its final phase.

Over the past two years, a total of 8.7 million square metres of new asphalt pavement has been laid on motorways across the country. Where necessary, not only the top layer was replaced, but also the deeper layers of the road structure were reinforced. As part of the improvements, 237 bridges and flyovers and 40 rest areas were also renewed. Of particular importance, for example, was the reconstruction of the Kőröshegyi viaduct, one of Hungary’s iconic infrastructures, according to Magyar Építők.

Which motorways are affected?

In 2025, the main works will be on the M3, M7, M1 and M35 motorways, but a further seven expressways (M15, M85, M86, M30, M4, M70, M8) will also benefit from upgrading works. The MKIF stressed that although the large-scale resurfacing project will be completed by the end of August 2024, road maintenance and periodic resurfacing will continue in the coming years.

Up-to-date information on the current status of the upgrades and the progress of the works can be found on the searchable interface on the MKIF Ltd. website. Motorists are advised to follow the latest news on road sections to plan their journeys in advance to ensure smooth traffic.

The future plans

The renovation work will not end in 2025. According to preliminary plans, a further 3.2 million square metres of road will be resurfaced, covering 16% of the motorways managed by MKIF. In addition to the road upgrades, 40 bridges and 30 rest areas will be reconstructed, including a major technical overhaul of the Pentele Bridge, where the bridge will be replaced with new gravel and dilatation structures will be upgraded.

Another major development will be the complete replacement of the old Venice pedestrian and cycle bridge on the M7 motorway. This investment will contribute to the modernisation of the region’s transport infrastructure and make walking and cycling safer.

The aim of the road rehabilitation is not only to improve the aesthetics and technical quality of the pavements, but also to increase the safety and comfort of road users. More modern road sections reduce the risk of accidents, provide a more comfortable travel experience and make the country’s motorway network more sustainable in the long term.

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