METRO LINE M4 SURFACE REINSTATEMENTS REACH MAJOR MILESTONE
Kelenföld Railway Station has major construction works in its environment, especially on the Őrmező side. The preparation of the full intermodal junction, which will connect several modes of transport, had been delayed earlier due to problems in acquiring land and regulating the area. It was only in the autumn of 2012 that the Budapest Municipality, Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) and DBR Metro Project Directorate could issue the tender announcement for the design concept of the reconstruction of the area, the building of a local and long-distance bus station, a 500-space P+R car park, and a 120-space B+R bike storage facility. The tendering procedure has been closed, design work can soon commence. The surface reinstatement of the terminal will extend beyond the technical deadline of the metro project. At the same time, however, the Őrmező exit of the metro station is necessary for the start of the Test in Traffic Operation of M4, so it is implemented in the framework of another contract. The construction of the exits and the 800-metre section of Péterhegyi út is currently under way, their completion is expected in February 2014. The box structure and the main ventilation shaft of the exit structure is complete, with finishing, electric and base-concreting works being carried out inside, and land backfilling and utilities works outside. In relation to the construction of the exit structure, there will be several cycles of traffic changes along Budaőrsi út, at the junctions of Balatoni út and Menyecske út, Boldizsár utca and Balatoni út, as well as Gazdagréti út and Budaőrsi út, and the access to the M1-M7.
The progress of surface reinstatement at Móricz Zsigmond körtér made it possible for bus traffic resume on the renewed surfaces of Fehérvári út and Karinthy Frigyes út this summer. The decorative surface of the pavements around the Saint Emeric (Szent Imre) statue, the bus roundabout at the end of Fehérvári út and the elevated tram-stop platform and the related walkways have been renewed and completed. The replacement of the surface of the entire square except for the immediate area of the Mushroom (Gomba) building will be completed by the end of October, which is implemented alongside the reconstruction of the building by the local district government. The different schedules of the works by the various contractors are coordinated. From March next year, public transport, pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy priority in the renewed square, with motor vehicles’ throughway being significantly curbed, and thus a new community area will come into being at the heart of the district with vehicle traffic constrained.
The square and the quay were renewed at Szent Gellért tér in several phases. Traffic restrictions ceased in the area of the Műegyetem rakpart (Technical University quay), Budafoki út and Bertalan Lajos utca that is above the metro station itself, and the traffic lanes were restored to their original places in both ways. On the Danube side, the outer lane has parking spaces, and there are angle parking places again between the two directions all the way to Budafoki út. Some restrictions are still to be expected in the line of the lift and stairway exit of the metro station until the end of October, and there will also traffic restrictions in the lanes between the other exit in the middle of the square connecting to the new pool and the Danube.
Fit-out and systems construction works will soon end at II. János Pál pápa tér, and following this surface reinstatement will also be completed in the square. As a result of the metro station, a significant part of the square has been reinvigorated. The new pavements and road surfaces were already handed over by the contractor in the autumn of 2009, but the making of the pavement and pool and the landscaping in the immediate vicinity of the station was been completed in the past few months. The population of the district can start to use the renewed area with new benches, trees and dog run at the end of October, and it will only be the stairway and the lift shaft that to remain closed until March 2014.
The full reconstruction of Baross tér and its area was significantly delayed due to the prolongation of the tunnelling works, the building of the station-box structure and the previous, unsuccessful tendering procedure. The station-box contractor of Keleti Railway Station had completed the utilities diversions, pavement and road building in the inner side of Thököly út, but the full surface reinstatement of the square could begin only in November 2012. Parallel to decreasing the road surface of the junction, the size and proportion of green areas will increase, as will the pedestrian areas. Bicycle lanes will ensure riders full throughway in all main directions. The distance between metro exits and surface means of transport will also decrease, transfer connections will also improve, and a new subway will be built with terrace-like roof slabs with trees, shrubs and grass on them. In front of the facade of the Railway Station, a park area and a spacious pedestrian axis will take shape. The statue of Gábor Baross will also be moved back to its original place this autumn. Thököly út will be renewed up to Hernád utca, and the section of Thököly út between Hernád utca and Dózsa György út will be renewed in BKK-run project. Now, traffic goes along almost the final alignment, pavements are also almost ready, and even the works at the Thököly út-side cark park have made considerable progress. In the autumn finishing, masonry, mechanical and electric works will be carried out in the subway, and a new catenary system is being built for trolley buses. Minor traffic changes are to be expected until the final handing-over of the square in March 2014.
Budapest Municipality
Budapest Transport Centre (BKK)
BKV Zrt. DBR Metro Project Directorate
Photos by Szabolcs Pető (DBR)