Margaret Bridge Renewal to Begin this Summer29 May 2009
The structure of the 133-year-old Margaret Bridge has deteriorated and its renewal is urgently needed. The renewal of Budapest’s second permanent bridge will begin this summer with the help of funding granted by the European Union Structural Funds.
One of the busiest bridges in Budapest will be completely re-built, monuments on the bridge will be renewed and damaged or destroyed historical structures will be restored within the framework of the project "Margaret Bridge in Budapest and the connecting transport system". The tram stops at the entrance to Margaret Island will be made wider and fitted with guard rails. The water, gas and thermal water pipelines running along the bridge will be renewed within the framework of this reconstruction work. Decorative lights will be installed along the bridge during the course of its renewal. One of the busiest tram lines in the world, namely, tram line No. 4-6, will continue to operate throughout the entire duration of the construction work.
The Municipality of Budapest has been planning to renew the bridge ever since the turn of the millennium. However, the Municipality had to wait for the Megyeri Bridge and Liberty Bridge to be handed over before shutting down the extremely busy route spanning the Danube. This is why the General Assembly of the Municipality of Budapest made a decision in 2007 to begin the reconstruction of Margaret Bridge in 2009. The construction of the temporary tram tracks will commence in August, once the public procurement procedure launched to select the contractor is closed, from which point on the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic. Construction work that does not interfere with traffic is expected to commence on 20 July, before the bride is officially closed to traffic. Major construction work accompanied by bridge closure will begin on the north side of the bridge in August and will be followed by the reconstruction of the south side scheduled to begin in March 2010. The bridge is expected to be reopened to traffic at the end of August 2010.
Main components of the renewal project:
Technical parameters
• replacing the road plates of the bridge with orthotropic plates; new insulation and surface;
• widening the north side of the bridge; creating a new bicycle-only lane;
• construction of the new bridge trusses along the bridge;
• widening the embankment pillars on the Buda and Pest side; construction of embankments; lengthening subways;
• re-construction of the tram tracks - aerial tramway support pillars in the middle
• replacing the road plates of the wing bridge with orthotropic plates; new insulation and surface;
• full corrosion protection on both bridges;
• re-construction of the middle pillar by removing the pedestrian subway;
• extending and widening the curves at the entrance to Margaret Island;
• extending the exit ramps on the Buda and Pest side;
• increasing the axle distance of the tram tracks;
• widening the tram stop platforms at Margaret Island, installing protective railings (pedestrian crossing lights will be placed here);
• architectural reconstruction of the bridge by restoring its original state;
• reconstruction of most public utilities along both bridges; the water and gas pipeline will be replaced and coated with corrosion-resistant material within the framework of the public utility investment project, which must necessarily be coordinated with the renewal of the bridge.
Historical reconstruction of Margaret Bridge
• restoration of the statues on the pillars and reconstruction of the missing statue on the third pillar;
• complete renewal of the facade of the middle pillar;
• full reconstruction of the embankment pillars;
• laying ashlars along the embankment stretch;
• reconstruction of the two customs houses on Margaret Island;
• covering subways, tunnels with Zsolnay tiles;
• installing authentic chandeliers and the reconstruction of the aerial tramway support pillars;
• restoring railings (existing railings along the wing bridge) and the ornate ledge beneath the railings to their original state.
The total cost of renewal amounts to 13 billion HUF, of which 6 billion is covered by European Union funding.
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