New milestone in the renovation of Budapest Chain Bridge – PHOTOS

This week, the last steel track plate has been put into place at the arch of the Budapest Chain Bridge. Accordingly, the renovation project of the capital city’s iconic bridge is closing a productive year.

As we previously reported, the reconstruction work of the Chain Bridge started this spring as it could not be delayed any longer. Since then, the majority of the elements have been replaced. And now the reconstruction has reached another milestone. At a press event on Tuesday,

the last new steel track plate was put into place at the arch of the Budapest Chain Bridge.

As the Centre of Budapest Transport (BKK) reports, the reinstallation work of the aging reinforced concrete replacement deck structure began at the middle of the Budapest Chain Bridge. The first new steel deck was delivered to the site at the end of July and lifted onto the bridge by a tower crane, before being installed on the Chain Bridge in August.

The steel track plate having been put into place this week was the last element on the section between the two bridge piers. The element – which is 11 metres long and 3.5 metres wide, and weighs 8 tonnes – was transported to the bridge by a special track system with a specifically designed, custom-made bucking crane.

Renovation works on the bridge and its surroundings have been ongoing since spring 2021. According to BKK, coordinating the workflow is a huge engineering challenge. It requires a systematic approach on the site, in the steel structure factory and in the architect office, as most of the elements are manufactured and installed on site.

The most important milestones this year

In February, the Budapest Transport Centre and A-Híd Plc, the winner of the public procurement procedure, signed the contract so that the renovation of Budapest’s most important cultural heritage site could finally begin. One month later, the pavement and the surrounding areas were closed to pedestrian traffic. In spring, the contractor took over the entire site and the work began with the de-metalling and demining of the waterfront of the Budapest Chain Bridge and the reconstruction of the Clark Adam Square. In June, the crossing and its surroundings were completely closed to pedestrian and road traffic, and the actual construction work on the site started. Later on, a giant Turkish-era cannonball was lifted from the water below the Chain Bridge which was followed the completion on the de-metalling work around the crossing. In July, the renovation reached its most spectacular stage, with the demolition of the bridge’s deck structure. One month later, the stone ornaments decorating the bridge decks were removed, and the installation of the new deck structure began. In September, the first section of the renovated chain was completed, displaying the renewed colour of the bridge, and the demolition of the Buda underpass began. Last month, the reinforced concrete structure of the new Buda underpass has been concreted and half of the underpass on the Pest side of the bridge has been demolished. And finally at the end of the year, the last new steel track plate has been put into place at the arch of the Budapest Chain Bridge.

The renovation project of one of Hungary’s most important cultural heritage sites is projected to last until 2023.

According to BKK, similar work processes can be expected next year as well. The complete renovation of the crossing, which started this spring, has been already scheduled. The bridge deck is projected to open for road traffic within a year.

Read alsoThe stone lions of the iconic Budapest Chain Bridge are being renovated! – PHOTOS

Source: bkk.hu, Facebook/KarácsonyGergely