In the past decade, more than 6,000 kilometers of road sections were repaired, the total value of the investments made was HUF 755 billion. Working off the maintenance backlog accumulated before 2010 still means a lot of tasks, the government supports the gradual progress in several road renovation programs, largely from domestic funds.

More than a thousand kilometers of road sections can be renewed this year, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (ITM) announced on Tuesday.

According to the announcement, the proper technical condition of transport networks is important for Hungarian people, businesses and the entire economy. When the weather turns for the better, the contractors' machines return to the public roads. By the end of the year, the massive road renovations that will begin in the spring will make driving and bus riding more comfortable and safer on a total of more than a thousand kilometers.

In the announcement, they remind us that more than 6,000 kilometers of road sections were repaired in the last decade, the total value of the investments made was HUF 755 billion. Working off the maintenance backlog accumulated before 2010 still means a lot of tasks, the government supports the gradual progress in several road renovation programs, largely from domestic funds.

With mass interventions, the local quality of life and traffic safety are constantly improving, as well as the service level of bus public transport, they added.

They quote László Mosóczi , ITM's state secretary responsible for transport policy, who said: "In 2021, renovation works can begin on a total of more than a thousand kilometers of road sections. If the further preparations proceed at the planned pace, the total value of this year's investments may even exceed HUF 300 billion. At the end of the winter operating period, the national road manager hands over the work areas to the contractors on a schedule from March 15 until autumn. In the coming days, full-scale renovations will start or continue on 87 road sections, a total of 235 kilometers. The total value of the modernizations that will begin in the spring exceeds HUF 37 billion."

According to the information, the Nyírtura-Nyíradony connecting road will be renewed for about 9.5 kilometers on the longest continuous section of the renovations starting in March. With a price of nearly HUF 2.5 billion, the most valuable investment is the complex development of the Nyúl-Ménfőcsanak side road, which also includes complete stormwater management. The waters that regularly flow down the hillside are channeled through a closed channel into a living stream. Seven bus interchanges will be renovated on the Budaörs section of highway 1, and the stops will be replaced with a much higher load-bearing basalt pavement instead of the current cobbled ones.

József Attila Szilvai , CEO of Magyar Közút Nonprofit Zrt., emphasized in the statement: "compared to last year, the almost doubled amount of full-scale renovation brings noticeable improvement to the road network in many areas. Most of the requests for intervention appear on the side road network, and accordingly, the majority of the projects will permanently fix the condition of inferior sections this year as well. But we don't forget about our other roads either, since in 2021 we can use a total of 143,000 tons of asphalt for local and large-surface repairs. Due to the magnitude of the improvements and maintenance, we strongly ask motorists to drive with extra caution in the vicinity of the work areas, to take care of our employees and the specialists of the contractors".

Source: MTI

Cover photo: MTI/BALÁZS MOHAI