Major expansion begins on Budapest–Vienna motorway – more affordable vignettes for those affected

As of 1 September, construction has begun on the main lane expansion of the M1 motorway, according to a joint statement released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Construction and Transport (ÉKM) and MKIF Hungarian Concessions Infrastructure Development Plc, via MTI.

Hungary’s largest motorway expansion

Officials emphasised that under the supervision and support of the ÉKM, Hungary’s largest motorway expansion is now under way. Construction begins with the removal of vegetation from the central reservation and the building of service crossovers, although preliminary work has been ongoing since last autumn.

The M1 will be expanded to 2×3 lanes over a 78-kilometre stretch between the M0 Ring Road and the Concó rest area at kilometre 94. In addition, each side will include so-called intelligent emergency lanes that can be opened during accidents, roadworks or heavy traffic — enabling up to 2×4 lanes of travel between Budapest and Győr, the statement said.

Based on the concession contract with the Hungarian state, the section between the M0 and Bicske is scheduled for completion by 31 August 2028, and the segment up to the Concó rest area by 31 August 2029. Although the motorway will also be expanded between the Concó rest area and Hegyeshalom, work on that section will begin at a later stage. Throughout the project, lane closures will be managed to ensure that two lanes in each direction remain open.

Website available in 13 languages

To provide accurate and real-time information to motorists, MKIF Plc launched a dedicated website about the M1 expansion on Tuesday. The site includes all traffic-related updates, such as interchange and rest area closures, current diversions with maps, emergency procedures, and real-time traffic regulations.

The continuously updated site is available in 13 languages: Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, Romanian, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Polish, Turkish, Bulgarian, English, German and Russian. The website is accessible by clicking HERE.

An animation showing the progression from the current traffic configuration to the final expanded layout is available here:

Comprehensive development

Officials highlighted that the M1 expansion involves more than simply adding new lanes. It is a comprehensive, system-level development. Seventy-two existing overpasses and underpasses will be rebuilt to meet new structural standards, as the widened carriageway would not fit beneath or over the current structures.