construction

New bridge to be built in Budapest – CONCEPT IMAGES, VIDEOS

One of the latest bridges in Budapest is currently under construction in district IX. It will connect the top peak of Csepel Island to the Hungarian capital’s circulation.

According to Pestbuda, the brand-new modern bridge will connect the Csepel Island, one of the largest islands on the Danube in Hungary, with the Pest side and will lead through an arched road right next to the National Athletics Centre in Budapest.

The 65-metres-tall pylon of the bridge which, as seen in the concept images, is the centrepiece of the bridge’s design, has been recently erected in its place.

The design of the bridge required some serious contemplation and eventually, the architects decided that the best solution was a curved bridge, which, if finished will be the only one-of-its-kind bridge in the Hungarian capital.

Read alsoCheck out the most beautiful bridges of Budapest – PHOTOS

Pestbuda writes that the bridge will have relatively large dimensions for a pedestrian bridge; it will be 170 metres long and its tallest point will be the 65 metres tall pylon in the middle.

On another note, this modern bridge incorporates a few interesting architectural solutions. Due to the curved structure, the pedestrians will have a jaw-dropping view of the Danube, and the entire structure will be held via the pylon making this a cable-stayed bridge with an orthotropic deck.

However, unlike in many cable-stayed bridges, such as the Megyeri Bridge, the pylon the cables are connected to is not over the deck of the bridge but rather beside it. To achieve that, the pylon needs to be sloped at a 9° angle backwards.

Read alsoTwo Hungarian cities ranked among the TOP10 most beautiful along the Danube

The “needle” of the bridge was towed to the location upon a barge with additional equipment and construction materials weighing a total of 200 tonnes. The difficult part about erecting the pylon was that it could only be done at a specific water level.

Pestbuda highlights that calling the pylon a “needle” is quite accurate as the nearly 70-metres long structure towering 65 metres above ground level is only 2 metres wide in diameter at its widest point, tapering even narrower in both directions.

The deck of the bridge will be held with 53 cables in total, with them having a range of diameters between 35 to 65 millimetres. In addition, the needle-like pylon will be stabilised with 3 wide cables.

The deck is 7 metres wide (wider than the iconic Chain Bridge) and while it was designed for pedestrians and cyclists, it is capable to support small golf-cart-like vehicles transporting athletes in case of a sports event at the National Athletics Centre.

Leo Rooftop Bar Drinks Food Restaurant Budapest rooftop bars in Budapest

Read also5+1 must-visit locations in Budapest with jaw-dropping panoramas

March 9, 2022

Budapest’s Széchenyi Square soon to be renovated! – PHOTOS

In the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, a new renovation project will start soon in the heart of the Hungarian capital. Let’s see the latest visual plans of renewing Széchenyi Square!

Széchenyi Square is located in the 5th district of Budapest, at the Pest foot of the Chain Bridge, and is part of the Danube Bend World Heritage Site. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Roosevelt Office Building, the Gresham Palace, the Ministry of the Interior and the Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge Hotel are located here.

Based on the latest news,

the renovation of Budapest’s iconic square will start soon in order to catch up with the renewal of the Chain Bridge and the Pest quays.

According to Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest, the Municipal Assembly has already provided the necessary funds for the implementation to the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK).

Széchenyi Square — Photo: www.facebook.com/karacsonygergely

As a result of the project, new pedestrian walkways will be created between the Basilica and the Chain Bridge, in front of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and towards Kossuth Square. In addition, conditions for cycling will be improved, as well as new green areas will be created in the area. As the Hungarian news portal Portfolio reports, during the reconstruction, the current roundabout-like road design will be simplified, allowing vehicles to follow a shorter, more logical route.

Presumably, the renovation project can be completed by the beginning of 2023, similarly to the renewal of the Pest quays.

In the vicinity of Széchenyi Square, the renovation of the Chain Bridge reached another important milestone last weekend. According to the Hungarian news portal 24.hu, the scaffolding surrounding the Pest side of the Chain Bridge has been completed, and the scaffolding builders are already at work on the Buda side. From now on, major stonework on site can begin.

In the next period, 120 small rosettes will be dismantled and refurbished, and a total of about 4,400 square metres of granite and limestone will be cleaned and repaired.

The four lion heads and the coats of arms will be refurbished on-site, supervised and managed by restorers and conservationists.

Read alsoThis is how the renovation of the iconic Chain Bridge continues – PHOTO GALLERY

March 1, 2022

Unique floating village built at Lake Tisza – PHOTOS

A unique floating village has been built along the Hungarian Lake Tisza, in Abádszalók. After the completion of the 17 four-season houses on piles, the construction of new ones started this year. Presumably, the next phase of the project will be done by the end of this summer.

As MTI reports, the first phase of the project cost a net EUR 2.7 million (~HUF 975 million), with the owners paying for the houses and the company financing the beach development and related investments. The investor Ferenc Hoffer, owner-manager of Hof-Fer Investor Ltd. revealed that the houses in the first phase were sold out last year. This spring, the remaining works will be completed which include landscaping of the coast, grassing, tree planting, and reed replanting.

He said that the marina is located in a Natura 2000 area, which is a flood protection area, so they had to find a solution that would adapt to the regular flooding that brings rising water levels. The lightweight floating houses will float on piles during flooding and then “float back” onto the piles when the tide goes out.

The lightweight houses, which are also habitable in winter, can be fitted with solar panels upon the owner’s request.

The floating houses were designed by Adrienn Laszli Studio and will be manufactured and installed by Forker Ltd.

The next two-year project, worth around EUR 5.6 million (~HUF 2 billion) net, has already started on the new part of the project, which is located further away from the houses of the first phase.

The houses could be ready by the end of this summer.

Hof-Fer Investor Ltd. was established in 2009 and was engaged in general construction. In 2014, it also took over the operation of the Abadi Port. Year after year, the port has become a tourist hub in the region. Its popularity further increased with the opening of the hotel ship Fairy Veil in 2016. By 2018, they had reached their current range of services, which, in addition to the harbour, also includes various tourist services on Lake Tisza.

The company employs 17 people, with an additional 6-8 employees during the summer season. According to public company data, the company’s net turnover in 2021 was EUR 746,000 (~HUF 266.5 million).

The same article in Hungarian: Egyedülálló úszófalu épült Magyarországon – képek

Read alsoHungary’s first floating house park to be built soon! – PHOTOS

February 22, 2022

Plans ready to build a new terminal at Budapest Airport!

Developments at Ferenc Liszt International Airport are proceeding at a dynamic pace; in 2019, 2020 and 2021, Budapest Airport spent more than 70 billion HUF on capacity expansion, infrastructure and sustainability developments, as well as other background developments enhancing the passenger experience and digitalization. The results of these investments are also clearly reflected in passenger feedback; in the last quarter of 2021, Budapest Airport scored among the highest in the region in the international passenger satisfaction survey, outdoing most of its competitors.

Budapest Airport developing

As Budapest Airport has reported several times previously, a major series of developments were undertaken at Ferenc Liszt International Airport in 2019, which has continued unabated and with unchanged intensity ever since. In the last three years, a new passenger pier with 14 boarding gates has been constructed, which offers 2500 seats, on an area of 11 500 square meters. A new air cargo base, the BUD Cargo City, has been completed, and has contributed significantly to the airport’s all-time high cargo volume of more than 183 000 tons in 2021. The third major investment was the addition of a new baggage sorting hall to the existing infrastructure, extending the conveyor belt system to nearly three kilometers, enabling much smoother and higher capacity baggage handling.

Access to the terminal buildings has also been made safer and faster, thanks to the new two-lane turbo roundabout, also completed over the last 3 years.

Developments have also included numerous capacity expansions. Amongst others, the number of bathrooms available in the terminals has been increased by 70% to 28, while all existing toilets have been refurbished, new passenger security screening lanes have been added, the curbside and Premium Parking in front of the terminal and the pedestrian walkways leading from the car parks to the terminal have been refurbished and the floor tiles in Terminal 2A have been replaced.

A new escalator has been installed in Pier B and the operator has handed over new elevators on the arrivals level of Terminals 2A and 2B.

The number of brand new self-service baggage drop-off machines available in the terminals is 30, while the number of automatic passport control gates has increased to 12, and thanks to the 13 drinking fountains, passengers can avoid the need to consume plastic bottled water, by refilling their water bottles in the terminal.

Read also: Here are the new summer destinations from Budapest Airport!

The dynamic pace of airport developments continued in 2021 as well, ensuring the continuous improvement and expansion of services and strengthening the airport’s regional advantage, which is a priority for both the owners and management of Budapest Airport. Despite the severe impact of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, which also had a massive effect on the operator’s revenues, Budapest Airport did not suspended investments. On the contrary, it brought forward certain developments, which were easier to implement during the low passenger traffic period.

Summary of developments in 2021

The new Main Gate of the airport was completed with a budget of 830 million HUF, and officially opened on 15 November 2021. Comprising a 440-square-meter building and 123 parking spaces, the facility has nearly two and a half times the capacity of the previous main gate, allowing faster and smoother access for employees, tenants and partners arriving in the operational area of the airport. The new Main Gate has been designed with Budapest Airport’s net zero carbon targets in mind. There is a 3000-square-meter green area surrounding the building, which has excellent energy efficiency features and solar panels on the roof, providing one-third of the building’s electricity needs. In addition, four electric charging stations are being installed at the Main Gate and another thirty charging stations are being constructed at other locations at the airport, as part of the airport’s e-mobility promotion program.

The airport’s taxiways and service roads have also undergone a number of refurbishments. Five taxiways and their shoulders have been renewed, in several phases, the three-kilometer-long main service road of the airport has been completely resurfaced and modernized with new LED floodlighting, several lighting upgrades have been carried out, and the asphalt on the Terminal 1 apron has been replaced with high-strength and high load-bearing basalt concrete.

A new escalator in Pier B was completed at the end of June. At the same time, the elevators in the terminals were modernized; the lifts connecting the departure and

the arrival levels at Terminals 2A and 2B were renewed.

Read also: New premium lounge opens at Budapest Airport! – PHOTOS

The modernization of lifts is ongoing continuously at the airport. As a development that is not visible to passengers but facilitates the smooth operation of background processes, the freight elevator used to transport oversized baggage will also be renewed, which will carry passengers’ oversized baggage directly to the baggage sorting hall. Works have started in January, so as not to disrupt normal passenger traffic.

Other refurbishment works to improve the internal atmosphere were also carried out at the terminals last year; on the arrivals level of Terminal 2B, around the passport control booths and in the arrivals hall of Terminal 2A, the airport operator replaced the suspended ceiling, and at the same time, the fluorescent lighting was replaced with modern and energy

efficient LED lighting.

Modernization everywhere

There was also significant modernization in IT during the first half of the year, with four major system upgrades completed, to take advantage of the low passenger numbers. New functions were added to the airport’s critical IT systems, thanks to the replacement of hardware and software tools. The technology change provides greater capacity and better quality systems, both for internal users and business partners. As part of the renewal of the baggage sorting system, security monitoring workstations have been consolidated and the old X-ray machines were removed, eliminating the need for passengers to remove electronic devices from hand baggage, for security screening. The replacement of all industrial fast gates in the baggage sorting halls of the SkyCourt and Terminal 2A is also underway.

Another 3 heating centers were successfully renewed before the heating season, and the operator plans to reconstruct two more heating centers for hangars in the spring.

By upgrading the thermal insulation of more than 2500 fittings that provide heat for office areas, warehouses and hangars, the airport will save 170 000 m3 of natural gas and 340 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, significantly reducing the environmental impact of the airport. In addition, the 10 kV protection and control systems of the airport’s transformer stations have also been modernized. The replaced protection devices are designed to ensure the smooth operation of runway navigation aids and airfield ground lighting fixtures on the taxiways. Finally, the airport operator also upgraded its fire alarm systems, which is essential to maintain safe operations and to comply with the National Fire Safety Regulations.

Some major investments and building renovations by partner companies operating at the airport also started or were completed last year. On the airside of the airport, Aeroplex of Central Europe (ACE) commenced the construction of its new 8000-square-meter hangar, while, as a result of the new hangar, Budapest Airport replaced a major section of the main rainwater drainage canal under the technical apron. As part of a joint project between Hungarian Post and Budapest Airport, postal premises at the airport were refurbished, in order to optimize the international mail service and to comply with the changed EU regulations on the handling of mail. In addition, the cooperation between HungaroControl and Budapest Airport, the so-called Remote Tower project, continued. The system, globally one of the first at a medium-sized gateway like Budapest Airport, is essentially a virtual tower that enables air traffic controllers to perform their tasks from a remote control center, off-airport.

Regional gold medal in the passenger satisfaction survey

Thanks to the investments made at Ferenc Liszt International Airport, passenger satisfaction has been steadily increasing over the past three years. In the results of the quarterly ASQ (airport service quality) surveys, the last quarter of 2021 surpassed all previous results. The anonymous survey, which is performed by an independent third party, asks passengers to rate the airport services that affect them most according to 37 different criteria, and the scores recorded in the last quarter of 2021 confirm that the more than 70 billion HUF series of developments implemented over the last three years has paid off, with very strong quality scores.

Overall passenger satisfaction jumped by +15% in the last quarter of 2021,

which is a strong performance when compared to other airports. Ferenc Liszt International Airport achieved a significant leap in quality with these results. The airport operator has managed to improve passenger satisfaction in all 37 categories.

In early February, Budapest Airport also received ACI World’s “The Voice of the Customer” accolade, which is given to airports that made significant efforts to collect passenger feedback during the epidemic, through the ASQ program. Budapest Airport continued to collect and evaluate passenger feedback over the past two years, during the pandemic, whereby it has placed a strong focus on improving the passenger experience and meeting expectations relating to the pandemic. More than 200 airports received this accolade worldwide in 2022.

Commenting on the developments, Chris Dinsdale, the CEO of Budapest Airport highlighted: “We have reason to be proud, having implemented huge developments at the airport worth more than 70 billion HUF over three years, which is confirmed by the positive feedback from passengers. What is more, the series of developments at the airport is far from over. On the contrary, even bigger investments are coming. In 2021, preparatory works for the reopening of Terminal 1 began, and we are already in the permitting phase.

Preparations for the construction of the new Terminal 3 are also underway; the plans are ready, and we are continuously preparing the airport for this major construction project.”

He added: “If everything goes according to plan, Terminal 1 will welcome its first passengers in the summer of 2024, while Terminal 3 is expected to be completed by 2028. In other words, the spectacular development of the airport and the continuous quality improvement will not stop; the gateway to Hungary must remain the best airport in the region.”

February 16, 2022

Unique cabin lift and renewed lookout point in the Tokaj wine region – PHOTOS

The Tokaj Wine Region is one of the regions in Hungary that has become famous primarily for its winemaking. The region’s wines have been known throughout Europe since the Middle Ages, and the wine business was reorganised in the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet-backed political system. The touristic significance of the region is high; therefore, Tokaj has been declared a key tourist development area by the Hungarian State, which means there will be a lot of attractive new investments in the region.

The project

This time, the company behind the Tokaj Wine Region issued a tender for the establishment of a chairlift and the renovation of the Kopasz Hill TV tower, which is unique in Hungary.
The chairlift is scheduled to run all year round, on a trail of about 2,000 metres, says Telex.hu. The chairlift will depart from the area called Fesztiválkatlan and arrive at the top of Kopasz Hill.

István Dévald, the managing director of the company, told Turizmus.com that the TV tower built in the 1960s was still a popular excursion destination in Tokaj: people go up to Kopasz Hill only to see that it is closed for visitors at the moment.

Hence the idea that in order to further develop tourism, the existing TV tower will be filled with guest-friendly features so that visitors can admire the area from a height while enjoying new services.
The development is expected to increase the number of visitors in Fesztiválkatlan. The plans include a 600-square-metre, multi-storey building.

While visiting the complex, visitors are going to be able to enjoy exhibitions, buffets or restaurants on the first floor, but the main attraction will be a 50-metre-high panoramic lift next to the TV Tower, which will be connected to the tower at the top by a bridge. The lookout tower, which many simply call the “mushroom”, is also going to be renewed, and a panoramic staircase is going to be created as well.

Tokaj wine region

The Tokaj region is an area of 5,500 hectares of vineyards and includes 27 towns and villages in total. The area is best known for its sweet aszú wines, made from nobly rotten grapes. We wrote an article 2 weeks ago about the Tokaj wine and French king Louis XIV’s famous saying about the Tokaj wine: “C’est le roi des vins et le vin des rois“, meaning “The King of wines and the wine of Kings”. You can read that article here.

Other developments

There is another big development going on in the Tokaj region: the world’s longest suspension bridge construction has started, we suggest you read our article about that, too. You can find it here.

February 5, 2022

Debrecen to have one of the most modern theathers in Central Europe! – PHOTOS

The theatre of the most important city in Eastern Hungary is currently undergoing serious development. According to the news, the project is progressing well, and the Csokonai Theater will be renewed and expanded from EUR 27 million by 2023, in addition to another development at Csokonyai Forum.

New theatre technology

A large-scale theater development worth about EUR 43 million is taking place in Debrecen, where everyone is looking forward to the completion of the Csokonai Forum and the reopening of the modernised Stone Theater, one of the city’s symbols. According to Turizmus.com, which reports on the mayor’s site tour, there will be new technical solutions used in the construction of the Csokonai Theater and Csokonai Forum buildings, where the theater technology investment takes place. The works are progressing well, and theater-goers will most likely be able to visit the Csokonai Theater building by 2023, which will be renovated by Hunép Zrt. The state source financing the investment comes partly from Modern Cities and partly the Debrecen 2030 program.

Following the completion of the refurbishment, 609 spectators will be able to occupy the auditorium while an additional 66 seats will also be available. Previously, there were more than 500 seats in the theater, but only 350 offered a direct view of the stage, says vg.hu.

Read also: World’s most prominent theatre festival to be held in Budapest

Debrecen as a regional cultural centre

Regarding the interior design and theater technology works of the Csokonai Forum, László Papp said that the processes take place at the right pace, and the theatre team can start rehearsing in the first half of the year, probably in May, earlier than the original completion date, August 2022. The implementation of the stage technology, the floor covering, and the terrace construction are progressing well, while the Orpheum is practically ready. The studio theater is almost completed, and the lighting technology will be installed soon.

According to the mayor, these two theatrical developments are extremely important milestones in the life of the city. The development of the Csokonai Forum is a crucial element to Debrecen’s cross-border regional role. In Hungary, but even in Central and Eastern Europe, apart from the capitals, there is no other city that can boast such a large-scale cultural development project. It will have a significant impact on the image and cultural role of Debrecen.

February 2, 2022

Budapest’s iconic square beautifully renewed – PHOTOS

The renovated square is in the 9th district of Budapest. Bakáts square is an important meeting point, where many locals spend their free time in Ferencváros. Interestingly, it is also one of the favourite squares of Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest.

According to epiteszforum.hu, compared to the original plans, more green areas were created in the Bakáts square. Furthermore, the developers included many social functions there. They will inaugurate them in the following days, and locals can test them in the next two months.

The local government and the capital provided the needed financial support for the project, which followed the plans of the Garten Stúdió. Samu Balogh, the chief of staff of Budapest’s mayor, shared some photos and information about the square.

Read also: This is what Budapest’s new green oasis will look like! – PHOTOS

He wrote that the subcontractors created more green areas than the original plans contained. Despite the original 225 m2, they made 1730 m2 green. That is eight times more than the original state and 30 pc more than the 2018 plans. There are 98 trees instead of 69, and they placed a drinking fountain there for people and dogs. Moreover, they replaced ten diseased trees and placed benches on the square. Furthermore, they built tables for check and mill games, a combined MOL Bubi station and a micro-mobility platform. Finally, there is a bicycle store for 100 bikes, as well.

They will build a temporary stage and a bleacher for 348 people for the summer. Thus, locals can expect a variety of outdoor programs from this year. They created „kiss&ride” parking lots in front of the school, where parents can stop shortly, and children can get out of the car. They also made a 25-metre-long loading bay to support local shops. In front of the church, there is a traffic-free area for pedestrians. Meanwhile, behind the building, there is an extended green surface.

Krisztina Baranyi, the district’s mayor, said locals would test the new square for two months. That is because the implementer will correct the errors people report. She added that locals and tourists would experience the full-scale beauty of the square in spring when the plants turn green.

Read alsoBudapest ranked as the world leader in tram transport

January 29, 2022

This is how the renovation of the iconic Chain Bridge continues – PHOTO GALLERY

We have published many reports about the ongoing renovation works of Hungary’s iconic Chain Bridge. The project started in June 2021 because experts said in 2019 that the bridge was no longer safe. The leadership of Budapest plans to inaugurate the renewed bridge in 2023 at the latest. That is because they would like to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Budapest’s birth with the new Chain Bridge.

As we reported before, the Hungarian A-Híd Ltd. is renovating the patinated capital bridge. The company with the largest Hungarian bridge-building history won the public tender for the project for a net amount of EUR 52.9 million (~HUF 18.8 billion). Within the framework of the renovation, the following works will be carried out:

the road surface will be completely reconstructed;
the remaining steel structures will be repaired and provided with corrosion protection;
the pedestrian barriers will be renovated;
bridge accessories (bridge shoes, expansion elements, walkways) will be renewed;
stone lions, stone coats of arms, stone inscriptions, and stone surfaces will be renovated;
the ventilation structures on the Buda side will be modernised;
the insulation of both the Buda and Pest anchoring chambers will be renewed;
the flood protection system of the chambers will also be built.

They will also take care of the riverbed arrangement while working with the highest quality and greatest care on the 172-year-old monument. This phase will include the Danube riverbed and the modernisation of navigational signals (construction of active radar), the reconstruction of pedestrian underpasses and stairs, and the renovation and utilisation of bridgeheads.

According to Magyar Építők, the contractors showed the progress they made and shared details about the current phases. They also included how the extreme cold weather affects their work. In December, work was finished by putting the last steel track plate into place.

New milestone in the renovation of Budapest Chain Bridge – PHOTOS

Magyar Építők said that the workers use technologies adequate for the weather. Furthermore, they try to progress with project elements that can be completed under the surface, inside the bastions or in the chain tunnel. For example, they provide heated tents for their workers to weld. As a result,

they can work without any interruption.

The contractors are adapting the working conditions and working environment to the winter, the strong wind, the freezing temperatures, and the early dusk.

In the heated tents, they continuously provide the necessary temperature. As a result, they can pre-heat the materials they use. Beneath the bridge, they also created heated areas to continue correcting the defects of the bridge structure. Those working outdoors are provided more time to spend in heated areas and can receive hot drinks. Of course, A-Híd calculated with the cold weather. Thus,

they planned the elements of the project to be carried out during winter.

On the Pest side, they are working in the chain tunnel and chamber. There, they are completing the corrosion protection of the structure. They started injecting in the chain chamber and tunnel on the Buda side. This means that the coating will defend the material from getting wet.

Read also: The stone lions of the iconic Budapest Chain Bridge are being renovated! – PHOTOS

The contractors

already put the first elements of the new sidewalk in their place.

They will build 100 of them between the two pillars of the bridge. Most of these units are ready, and many are already on site. Furthermore, they built a new inspection walkway under the bridge. That will be crucial for the bridge master, who will do the prescribed analysis by walking on it.

Additional elements of the project include:

building new tunnels for pedestrians and bikers in the Pest and Buda bridgeheads;
renewing the limestone coating of the bastions and tunnels;
on the Pest side, they are working on scaffolding the front gate.

Additional photos of the Chain Bridge revamp:

Special thanks to Magyar Építők for allowing us to use their photos.

Read alsoThis is how the renovation of the iconic Chain Bridge continues – PHOTO GALLERY

January 28, 2022

This is how Budapest’s City Park to become car-free

Many consider the City Park in Budapest the lungs of the Hungarian capital. It lies within 302 acres (1.2 km2), and its main entrance is at Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), one of Hungary’s World Heritage sites. Furthermore, you can find the Vajdahunyad Castle, one of Budapest’s biggest ice rinks, the Széchenyi Baths, the zoo and the Museum of Transport in it. Thousands go there to do sports, drink a beer or enjoy the untamed nature in its groves and glades. However, the M3 Motorway (Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania) leads through the City Park. Therefore, hundreds of thousands of vehicles commute there each day. A new project aims to change that, and make the City Park car-free.

Dávid Vitézy, the head of the Budapest Development Agency, said in a Facebook post that it was decided 60 years ago to end the M3 Motorway at the back entrance of the City Park. As a result, the traffic volume in the lungs of Budapest reaches that of the Petőfi Bridge. Therefore, they would like to create a car-free City Park, and both the government and the city council back their plan.

Average traffic in the City Park at present:

City Park Budapest — https://www.facebook.com/vitezydavid

According to Helló Magyar, Városliget Ltd. announced the relevant planning tender days ago. The government and the city leadership agreed in 2020 summer to make the City Park car-free. At first, they will rebuild the Kós Károly Promenade. Furthermore, they will build a new bridge above the Rákosrendező Train Station. Moreover, there will be a new P+R parking lot for 1,500 cars in Mexikói Street and other minor traffic engineering developments.

Read more: The House of Hungarian Music has been inaugurated – PHOTOS, PROGRAMMES

Based on the government decree nr 1415/2020. (VII.16.),

they will make Heroes’ Square and Kós Károly Promenade car-free. Besides, drivers will not be able to use the Állatkerti Boulevard at off-peak hours.

There are a few exceptions. Public transport like trolleybuses will remain, but nobody will be able to leave their cars in the City Park. In Dózsa György Street, there will be an underground garage and a P+R parking lot will be built in Mexikói Street. As a result, those coming from the direction of the M3 Motorway will be able to use public transport to continue their journey.

Vitézy wrote about the new parking garages around the City Park. He added that they have to fit into the M1 metro line extension project and its new station in the Hungária Boulevard. The planning of the bridge above the Rákosrendező Railway Station started earlier. It aims to connect Zugló (14th district) with Angyalföld (13th district) and lead Tram 3 to Béke Square. The local governments and the municipal council can send their opinion on the plans.

Read more: The mysterious castle of Budapest City Park – PHOTO

The development of the northeastern railway lines (Hatvan, Veresegyház, Gödöllő) and the P+R garages to be built in the stations will also support the car-free City Park project. These elements are already in the Budapest Suburban Railway Node Strategy.

Read alsoThis is how Budapest’s City Park to become car-free

January 24, 2022

World’s longest suspension bridge construction started in Hungary! – PHOTOS

The record-breaking suspension bridge will be an iconic attraction for the Tokaj-Zemplén region and for Hungary.

As we previously reported, the project of the world’s longest suspension bridge has been in the pipeline for some time. At last, however, the construction plan of the National Unity Bridge in Sátoraljaúhely has been finalised.

As Hungarian news portal Turizmus reports, preparatory works have already started with the landscaping. The construction of the world’s longest suspension bridge will be realised within the framework of the Tokaj-Zemplén Development Programme.

The pedestrian bridge will be 700 metres long, which is unique in its category.

The suspension bridge will be located in an important tourist location in the region, between Várhegy and Szárhegy, at a height of 80 metres. It will offer a breathtaking view of the Zemplén Mountains and the Highlands and will later become part of the Zemplén Adventure Park. Therefore, it is not surprising that the National Unity Bridge will have some adventurous characteristics as well. The central part of the structure is planned to have a glass surface to enhance the experience.

Zemplén bridge3 — Photo: www.youtube.com/Zemplén Televízió/

Zemplén bridge — Photo: www.youtube.com/Zemplén Televízió/

Presumably,

the suspension bridge will become an important attraction for the Tokaj-Zemplén region and for Hungary.

The investment worth EUR 11.2 million (~HUF 4 billion) is part of the Tokaj-Zemplén Development Programme adopted by the Government. The purpose of the development project is to increase the region’s attractiveness to tourists, ensure sustainable development, and strengthen the region’s population retention.

The construction works are planned to be completed in 2023.

Read alsoMost prestigious construction award won by futuristic Hungarian bridge

January 22, 2022

Budapest to become the capital of modern city centers! – PHOTOS

There are dozens of exciting real estate developments scheduled for 2022. In addition to several residential, office, hotel, commercial and urban projects, the Hungarian capital will also have new modern city centers. Check them out below!

BudaPart

Last year, the fifth ultramodern residential building was handed over at BudaPart. Moreover, the urban development project will bring new visible results in 2022 as well. Namely, two more residential buildings and a new business center will be constructed in the area. In addition to an 8,000 m2 office building, the latter will also house the Radisson chain’s newest hotel.

BudaPart has been under construction for several years in Budapest’s 11th district, in the vicinity of the Kopaszi dam. As the Hungarian news portal Portfolio reports, the total investment that took over 10 years includes the construction of 15 residential buildings, 13 office buildings and the hotel mentioned above. This represents approximately 3,000 apartments and 250,000 m2 of new office space. Within the framework of the project, Budapest’s tallest building, the MOL headquarters will also be completed by the end of this year.

Mol Tower Budapest Concept Hungary Tallest Building Budapest Modern Skyscraper — Photo: budapart.hu

Grand Corvin

The revamping project of Budapest’s 8th district is coming soon to its end. Accordingly, the last residential building on the Corvin promenade will be finished this year.

Within the framework of the Grand Corvin project – which started in 2013 – 22 hectares of land have been regenerated and 2,700 new homes have been built. Additionally, 100,000 m2 of office space and 50,000 m2 of retail space have been created in Budapest’s new modern city center.

City Pearl

Budapest’s 9th district will also get a makeover. The new modern city center is named City and will give place to 10 residential buildings, 4 office buildings, a hotel and a shopping mall in an area of nearly 5 hectares.

Láng Quarter

In the second half of 2022, another large-scale urban development will start in the 13th district of Budapest. The development project is called the Láng Quarter.

According to current plans, the new modern city center will include 136,000m2 of residential buildings, 133,000m2 of office buildings and a further 16,000m2 exclusive four-star hotel with nearly 250 rooms. The remaining parts may even include underground parking.

Zugló City Center

The 14th district of Budapest will not be left untouched either. The project will start in the first half of the year and is expected to last for 8 years. The entire area will boast 35,000 square metres of landscaped areas. The residential area will be 55,000 square metres, with roof gardens and green roofs. In total, 950 new apartments will be built. The commercial area of the project will be 84,000 m2. This will include a grocery store and a shopping street of 12,000 square metres.

Featured image: www.facebook.com/BudaPart/

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January 22, 2022

How does a 1-km-long motorway section cost EUR 112 million in Hungary!?

The new segment of the M0 motorway going around Budapest will cost EUR 112 million (HUF 40 billion) per kilometre. The construction works will start in 2026 at the earliest, and the contractor will build 8 kilometres of the new motorway between main roads number 10 and 11. That construction is currently in the planning phase.

András Zsilák Makra, a Hungarian expert in motorway building, told Magyar Építők that nobody compares the price per kilometre in the case of motorways. That is because the price depends on many variables, for example, the number of tunnels, bridges, and intersections.

He said that in the case of motorways built in the plains, the cost per kilometre is four bn forints (EUR 11.2 mn). However, that sum applies only if, for example, the technical content is average. In the case of M100, an expressway connecting Esztergom with Budapest, there are 4 valley bridges, 6 tunnels, 6 intersections, so the cost goes up to HUF 14 bn per kilometre.

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He added that building the new segment of the M0 motorway would be even more difficult. Multiple intersections and a 5.2-kilometre-long tunnel are planned. Moreover, this new segment of the motorway will have 2X3 lanes. That is why one kilometre will cost more than HUF 40 bn.

Of course, this would not be the first time that a motorway, an expressway or a simple bicycle road cost an incredible amount of money in Hungary. As we reported before, a 1.1-km-long bike road was built in Szendehely (Nógrád County) in 2015 for EUR 556,000 from EU funds. According to Magyar Narancs, it is not strange that road-building is very expensive in Hungary. For example, one km of the M6 motorway is built for HUF 4.5 billion (EUR 12.5 million). Between Ságvár and Som (Somogy County, near Lake Balaton), 5.6 km cost 627 million, which means that one km was HUF 111 million (EUR 308,000).

Read more: One km bike lane for 750 thousand EUR? In Hungary, that’s reality

Read alsoLargest university sports terrace in Europe to be built in Hungary

January 21, 2022

Central Europe’s largest bus factory opens in Hungary!

In 2022, the largest bus factory in the Central and Eastern European region will be inaugurated in Hungary. As a result, thousands of buses and electric vehicles will be developed in Mosonmagyaróvár every year.

Even though the pandemic has caused several difficulties in vehicle manufacturing, Kravtex-Kühne Group continued its expansion. As Hungarian news portal Magyar Nemzet reports, the company has started the third phase of the new Mosonmagyaróvár bus factory that will be completed this year.

The new bus factory will cover an area of more than 20,000 m2, with which

it will be one of the largest bus factories in the Central and Eastern European region.

With the new production site, the group’s capacity will increase to 1,000 buses per year, taking into account the multi-shift working schedule. Within the framework of the Green Bus programme, the company has also started to develop electric models. The Credobus models are expected to be competitive thanks to their ultra-lightweight design, innovative chassis, and optimised frame structure. Their production can start next year in Mosonmagyaróvár and Győr.

By 2025, half of the buses sold by the group could be electric.

In addition to job creation, these economical buses can save up to 15% of fuel, which is worth millions of euros, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport by thousands of tonnes a year.

After last year’s boom, which was a 20-year peak for the Hungarian bus sector, similar results are expected in the upcoming years as well. In order to realise this, the government has granted an investment of more than EUR 5.6 million (~HUF 2 billion), including the creation of a production environment for the articulated bus chassis, with a total value of EUR 1.2 million (~HUF 470 million).

Credobus is the number one bus manufacturer in Hungary. Its products are market leaders in several segments, including state and municipal transport services. Its special buses are also used by the police, the defence forces, and public health organisations in Hungary. The group has so far produced more than 2,600 buses, and its share in the 6,200-strong intercity fleet of Volánbusz is around 40%.

Read alsoNumber of electric vehicles grew by 50% in Hungary

January 21, 2022

Largest university sports terrace in Europe to be built in Hungary

The largest university sports terrace in Europe will be built on the Alkotás Street campus of the University of Physical Education (Testnevelési Egyetem).

The university will boast a huge sports roof terrace with a 450-meter running circuit, an outdoor training park and a café. The facility will be 10,000-square-foot. – writes Portfolio. The new building complex will be built on a total of 78,000 square meters, as the athletics hall in Csörsz street will also be renewed.

The facilities the sports terrace will offer are quite impressive, too. Running track, teqball tables, street workout, TRX, fitness equipment, slackline, ping pong table and outdoor yoga space will be constructed. Another level will be added too which will serve as a university event terrace.

A 50 meters indoor swimming pool, indoor athletics hall, gymnasium, ball games and shooting range, and a dorm for 400 people will also be built. The pool will have FINA qualifications, making it suitable for organising competitions.

The building will pride itself in housing Hungary’s first indoor athletics hall, which will be suitable for television broadcasting

When designing the sports terrace, an environmentally friendly approach was taken. – as tspc.hu writes. The architects designed a waterproof covering for the roof, used natural materials and created an environment that is plant-friendly. Bad rainy weather will not be a problem, either. Students will be able to use the facility all year round. Solar power will also be used to operate the facility in a more environmentally friendly way.

The company that is building the project also presents it on its website by mentioning the construction plan at Csörsz street.

“A 400-meter, eight-lane, open-air athletics track with a 360-seat grandstand will be built in the framework of the Csörsz Street project. In addition to the natural grass football pitch and the two open-air tennis courts, the campus will also include a multi-functional hall with a movable mobile stand with a 1,500 person capacity. A unique design element of the project is the special fencing on the side of the BAH transportation hub, named ‘the colonnade’. The colonnade is a wavy, curved boundary line with raster dynamics, seeking to reflect the traffic of the hub with its inner momentum. BIM technology was used to design the colonnade. An athletics hall with a 400-seat grandstand, a swimming facility with a 50-meter Olympic-size pool and a 25-meter training pool, as well as a rooftop sports terrace with running track and paved sports facilities for various recreational sports will be built. The 53-room Sport hotel will also be located in this block.” – they write.

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January 20, 2022

The construction of Gellért Hill’s new funicular to begin soon! – PHOTOS

With the construction of the Gellért Hill’s new funicular, a 100-year-old plan will be finally realised. Presumably, the project will be finished in the second half of 2023.

The Government Office of the Capital of Budapest has issued a new permit for the construction of the funicular planned for Gellért Hill. Accordingly, the spectacular project can continue in 2022.

Additionally, several modifications will be implemented in the technical part of the project, which will make it even more environmentally friendly than originally planned. According to the developers,

the long-awaited project will allow the complete ban of tourist buses from the surrounding roads.

Tourist buses pose a major burden to the road traffic of the district and have a negative impact on the quality of the residents’ lives.

Gellért Hill Funicular-map — Photo: www.facebook.com/vitezydavid

On average, 350-400 tourist buses pass through Gellért Hill every day. Instead of buses, tourists will be able to use the new funicular.

The 300-metre-long, multi-car electric vehicle will complete the journey from the bottom of Gellért Hill to the top within 72 seconds.

The construction of the new funicular will realise a more than century-old plan. Moreover, the restriction on tourist buses will make the roads of the region safer. Consequently, also the air quality will noticeably improve.

As the Hungarian news portal Helló Magyar reports, after the occupation of the site, the landscaping and archaeological excavations will begin. These procedures will be followed by the actual construction which is expected to take 13 months.

Presumably, the new funicular on the Gellért Hill will be ready to welcome visitors in the second half of 2023.

The entrance of the funicular is planned to open from the underpass beneath the Hegyalja road. The vehicle will run underground for about 100 metres until it reaches Orom Street. From that point, it will continue over a 3-4 m high bridge structure, above the surface, to the upper station which is connected to the Citadella promenade. The cable car has the capacity to carry 50 passengers in less than 1.5 minutes, allowing it to take up to 1,200 people per hour to the top of Gellért Hill.

Magyar Zene Háza House of Hungarian Music

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January 18, 2022

Take a look at the future National Circus Arts Centre in Budapest!

As Europe’s leading centre for circus arts, Hungary is hosting the world’s first scientific conference on circus buildings. A model of the National Circus Arts Centre building was also presented at the conference.

Between 12 and 17 January, the XIV. Budapest International Circus Festival takes place at the Budapest Grand Circus. As an overture, organisers held a scientific and professional conference on circus buildings at the Museum of Fine Arts on Wednesday. Several foreign circus arts experts took part in the conference.

magic globe csodagömb — The mock-up of the circus building named Csodagömb (Magic Globe). Source: Zoltán Balogh/MTI

The conference and the exhibition

As PestBuda reported, participants had the chance to learn about the history of circus buildings in Europe. What is more, organisers opened an exhibition in the Baroque Hall of the Museum of Fine Arts to mark the occasion.

At this exhibition, participants could observe a mock-up of the National Circus Arts Centre. The building will be under construction next to Nyugati Railway Station in the near future. Visitors could also get to know the new circus building and the artists’ training institute that will be built as part of the Circus Arts Centre.

“For the first time in the world, Hungary, as Europe’s leading centre of circus arts, is hosting a scientific conference on circus buildings and a conference on circus education,”

shared Péter Fekete, State Secretary for Culture and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Budapest International Circus Festival.

About the National Circus Arts Centre

The government adopted a decision to build the Centre as an investment of key national economic importance in February 2021.

The new Circus Arts Centre will have the following parts: a new circus building and an artist training school. The former will be built on a long-vacant site next to Nyugati Railway Station, and the latter will be converted from an old railway hangar.

Kornél Almássy, Director of the Hungarian Museum of Architecture, said the following about the exhibition:

“With the help of numerous models, blueprints, maps, and other documents, as well as works of art, the exhibition reviews the history of Hungarian circus art and architecture and also looks to the future of the National Circus Arts Centre.”

As we wrote in one of our previous articles, many of the world’s top circus performers view Hungary as a refuge. The reason for this is that all over the world, circuses closed due to the pandemic situation. However, they remained open in Hungary.

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January 16, 2022

Minister: largest Hungarian road construction project starts in Asia

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Wednesday met his Sri Lankan counerpart, Gamini Lakshman Peiris, and pledged to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Earlier on Wednesday, Szijjártó announced the largest Hungarian road construction project which is getting under way in South Asia.

Betonútépítő is building two large motorway overpasses near Sri Lanka’s capital as part of a 20 billion forint (EUR 56m) development, the ministry said in a statement. Szijjártó noted that the government supports Hungarian companies entering international markets. Hungary’s Eximbank is backing the investment which is expected to conclude by October 2023. Metal structures for the construction are being made in Nyíregyháza, while their delivery will take place in March.

At the joint press conference with Peiris, Szijjártó said cutting-edge technologies implemented by numerous Hungarian companies gave them a competitive edge internationally

, opening up investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.

Besides infrastructure development, Hungarian printing and water management companies are also present in the country, he said. A recently reconstructed water purifying plant has given 2 million people access to clean drinknig water, he said. While many development projects worldwide have fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hungarian government is supporting Hungarian companies present on foreign markets to prevent further losses, he said.

Read also: The new bridge built over the River Tisza is unique in Europe – PHOTOS

The ministers have agreed to convene the second meeting of its economic committee as soon as possible and to speed up talks on

the elimination of double taxation to ensure “fair and honest cooperation”,

Szijjártó said.

Starting this year, Hungary is also

offering 20 scholarships to Sri Lankan students wishing to study in Hungary,

he said. “We have always been fair, honest and reliable partners. We have not interfered in each other’s internal affairs, we’ve never criticised each other, and we’ve supported each other in international organisations; and we wish to carry on that way in the future,” Szijjártó said.

Peiris praised Hungarian economic development and said his country was on track to implement similar projects, which made robust cooperation and knowledge exchange very important. During the visit, Szijjarto also met Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as the ministers of commerce, education and highways.

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January 12, 2022

Puskás Arena wins yet another award

puskas arena champions league 2026 russia match

Puskás Arena won yet another award. This time it was awarded at Mapei World Competition for Reference Buildings.

The reconstruction of the Puskás Arena in Budapest won an award at the world competition of reference buildings. –writes Hello Magyar. Béla Markovich, managing director at Mapei Kft. said that the Hungarian building competed with monumental investments. Hello Magyar also writes that hundreds of outstanding entries from around the world have participated in the competition. The Reference Grand Prix competition was organized for the 19^th time among the Mapei Group subsidiaries.

The reconstruction of Puskás Arena was one of the biggest investments of the past few years in Hungary. The award at the The Reference Grand Prix was not the first acknowledgement of the building.

The building won the Red Dot. The arena was voted Stadium of the Year 2019 by the public’s votes of Stadium Database. The jury voted to give the building second place. – writes pestbuda.hu. Hello Magyar writes that the arena won the Special Prize for the Most Beautiful Sports Facility at the Prix Versailles Architecture Awards in 2020. In 2021, the iconic Hungarian stadium was chosen as a candidate for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture.

Viktor Orbán inaugurating a swimming pool in Gödöllő

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It is no surprise that the arena won an award, as Hungary invests a lot of money in sports facilities.

Budapest Multifunctional Sports and Event Hall is built in Budapest’s Népliget. The building will be able to host 22,000 visitors. The modern building will have 49 VIP boxes, 14 lifts, 8 escalators and a display that weighs a total of 12 tons and has more than 14 million pixels.

Budapest Handball Arena, Hungary’s biggest sports hall, was already inaugurated in Budapest. The sports hall would be suitable for competitions in 26 branches of sport. The impressive arena occupies a total area of over 50,000sqm and has 20,022 seats for spectators.

Pick Arena in Szeged is another impressive building. Pick Arena can host 8,143 spectators. The building’s size is over 28,000 square meters.

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January 11, 2022