PHOTOS: New Danube bridge in Hungary inaugurated

“The new bridge linking Kalocsa to Paks is part of a complex, well-thought-out, long-term national development and nation-building plan”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the inauguration of the Tomori Pál Bridge in Kalocsa on Thursday.

New Danube bridge inaugurated

The 946-metre-long, two-lane crossing is named after Pál Tomori. Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán

According to turizmus.com, Orbán stressed that the government is determined to attract as many investments and industrial enterprises as possible to the south of the Zalaegerszeg-Székesfehérvár-Kecskemét-Debrecen axis, in other words, to create economic power, and for this, Hungary needs roads and bridges.

The Prime Minister is convinced that the importance of the southern Hungarian regions will increase in the future and that the trade between Serbia and Hungary will play a key role in this, making this region the “gateway to the West”. As part of the plan, the M6 motorway will be taken to the border, linking the Croatian-Slavonian areas with Hungary, he said.

Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán

Orbán also pointed out that two of the country’s most important strategic investments will be built in this region: the new nuclear power plant will be built in Paks, and the Budapest-Belgrade railway line will be built not far from Kalocsa, which is one of the most important building blocks of the Hungarian nation-building programme.

Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán

Danube flood to peak soon

The flood water level of the river Danube is currently at its peak near Nagybajcs, in north-western Hungary, and it is expected to peak in Budapest early on Saturday, the national water management directorate OVF said on Thursday.

A floodgate has been closed at the river mouth of the Moson-Danube in order to reduce pressure on the affected stretch and guarantee the safety of Gyor, the statement said. Some 317 people have been involved in flood prevention in the Szigetkoz area, it added. Passing boats have been alerted to stay as far as possible from the riverbank in order to minimise the effect of the waves they generate.

The water level is expected to peak in Budapest around 10-20 cm under the level of the lower embankment.

No considerable rain was reported in the German and Austrian water catchment areas of the river Danube in the past 24 hours.

Read also:

• Flood alert issued for Budapest, traffic changes
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