Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony reopened the capital city’s landmark Chain Bridge undergoing reconstruction to buses, taxis, motorbikes and bicycles on Friday afternoon.
“Let the Chain Bridge be a bridge between the present and the future, a bridge reconnecting the city’s Pest and Buda sides and reconnecting a divided, fragmented country,” Karácsony said at the event.
The mayor thanked the designers, the construction company and the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) for their work carried out so far, as well as Budapest residents for their patience bearing with the inconvenience caused by the renovation.
Photo: MTI
He also thanked the government for its work, saying that “the government ought to share such a joint success as the renovation of the Chain Bridge”.
Photo: MTI
The bridge will reopen to pedestrians once the upgrade’s last phase is completed which is expected in the late summer of 2023, Karácsony said, adding that the city will also seek the opinion of Budapest’s residents in finalising the operation of transport services on the bridge.
László Sal, the chief executive of the construction company A-Hid, said 80 percent of the reconstruction work has been completed which involved reinforcing 20 tonnes of metal structure, installing 900 tonnes of steel grids, polishing stone surfaces and adding new anti-corrosion coating to the chains.
Katalin Walter, BKK’s CEO, said that the bridge reopened for temporary traffic as planned 548 days after its full closure in June last year.
-
- Photo: MTI
-
- Photo: MTI
The 26.75 billion forint (EUR 65m) renovation of the Chain Bridge and its immediate vicinity is expected to be completed by next autumn, in time for celebrations marking the anniversary of the formation of Budapest on November 17.
Here is a video of the press conference:
Source: MTI
1 Comment
Wonderful – looks Splendid.
The use as permitted not available for Private Motor Vehicle use – whilst controversial is a Rightful decision environmentally and the future of our beloved and adored Chain Bridge.
Hungary – we are a muchly divided country, fragmented, that sees us in a factual position, living in a country that our Economy – taken to its PRESENT place, by a Government that BLAME solely rests on the shoulders of the present Prime Minister of Hungary – Victor Orban.
Hungary – the hardship felt being lived by Millions of Hungarians, that continues to grow, lessening millions of Hungarians quality of lives, there personal and their families FUTURES, especially the “little ones” through the shambolic state of Education we are living with in Hungary, that the Nadir of its bottom is distanced from finding a place to STOP – in its blackening deepening hole -that leaves us Hungary on the cusp of a cataclysmic collapse.
“When the Yoke is Broken,
the Burden is Removed.”
Hungarians – the Yoke
and the Burden – this Prime Minister – Victor Orban – this Government – BLAME is of their OWNERSHIP – for the “ugly” place we as a country are in at this time.