SPECTACULAR PHOTOS: Boats helping Budapest’s Chain Bridge revamp

The reconstruction of Budapest’s illustrious Chain Bridge progresses following the plans. Now a barge helps reinstate some monuments, iron castings and balustrades. Until the end of the revamp project, the bridge remains the workspace. Therefore, you cannot cross it on foot. That will be allowed only during the final phase of the reconstruction. However, you may pass it by bus, bicycle and taxi. And there is a good chance that Budapest will not give a green light for cars even after the end of the renovation.

The ‘new’ Chain Bridge will be astonishing

According to BKK, the Budapest Transport Company, passengers may use the bridge again this fall. However, from 20 March, more buses will be allowed to use Hungary’s historic overpass.

Currently, two boats, a barge and a pusher are working on the revamp of the Chain Bridge. They are needed to reinstate massive iron castings. They have already been put back to their original place on the Pest side. The work will continue on the Buda side pylon.

Afterwards, the decorated balustrades will come. Twenty of them were carefully renovated, and received an anti-corrosion protective layer from a Csepel (21st district) manufacturer. The reconstruction of the balustrades followed some photos taken in 1914-1915 of the original ones.

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Boats were required to carry out some parts of the reconstruction work before. For example, barges cleaned the vicinity of the bridge from metal and bombs. That is how they found historic balustrade elements and even Ottoman cannons in the Danube.