Important Regional Roads Renewed in the North Part of Borsod County16 November 2009
The residents of 9 small settlements are the direct beneficiaries of the investment implemented with the help of EU funding amounting to 1 billion HUF, within the framework of which 46 kilometres of secondary roads were renewed in the northern region of Borsod County.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on 12 November, which event Mr Péter Kiss Minister for Social Policy also attended.
The Hungarian Roads Management Company is the project host of road renewal projects implemented within the framework of the North Hungary Operational Programme (NHOP) of the New Hungary Development Plan. A total of 320 kilometres of 4 and 5-digit secondary roads are being renewed in the region in 2009.
In terms of the number of kilometres renewed and the amount invested, the renewal of the full-length of the Serényfalva-Ragály by-road (Road No. 2601), as well as the connecting stretch of the Sajókaza-Aggtelek-Szín by-road (Road No. 2603) up to Highway 27 qualify as priority projects. Roadwork began in May under the direction of the company Colas Construction Co. and has just been completed and handed over. The project presentation press conference was held at Ragály on 12 November to mark this accomplishment, at which event Mr Péter Kiss Minister for Social Policy, as well as Mr Nándor Gúr and Ms Ildikó Gyárfás Parliamentary representatives for the region gave speeches. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the junction of the two roads.
Mr Gábor Stoll, Director of the road management company in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County presented the project from a technical perspective. Beyond reinforcing the road structure, the constructor widened bends, cleaned the trenches and road culverts and restored road embankments. 9 bridges were also renewed during the course of road reconstruction. The expert said that the state of the road and its coarse surface is now European standard and satisfies modern transport requirements.
9 settlements lie along these renewed roads; a common characteristic is that not one has a population over 1000 and the total population of these settlements is a mere 4000. A good quality transport network provides the opportunity for this small village region to improve its situation and develop.
“The settlement of Szín is very happy about these developments, since the village with a population of 500 is the gateway to Jósva Valley, said Mr Bálint Ötvös, mayor of the settlement. “These developments are extremely important for locals, as well as the region, since it is possible to reach Aggtelek National Park and the caves via this road. The centre of the micro-region, namely, the town of Edelény, will be easier to reach for people living here, as will Kazincbarcika for settlements situated further south. Travel time by car will decrease by up to 30 minutes,” said Mr Bálint Ötvös, describing the difference in the state prior to renewal and following the completion of construction works.
Over 1 billion HUF could be spent on the renewal of 46 kilometres of secondary roads with the help of funding made available by the European Regional Development Fund.
It will be possible to renew a total of 183 road stretches nationwide over the 2008-2009 period in the seven official regions of Hungary within the framework of the actions plans of the regional operational programmes. These developments are implemented under the regional development priority of the New Hungary Development Plan within the framework of 73 projects, along over 1100 kilometres and by using funding amounting to 50 billion HUF.