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IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS METRO 4 IS MEDIUM PRICED - ITS BUDGET INCREASED DUE TO WELL KNOWN ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS
Over the last year several such international examples of metro constructions appeared in the national press, which were false, based on incorrect data and lacking actual technical parameters. The DBR Metro Project Directorate has in all cases responded to these press news that were misleading the Hungarian citizens, despite of this the public awareness noted only that the Budapest metro construction is more expensive, than any similar foreign investment, and its budget is unrealistically high, and even tripled in recent years. Contrary to all these – as the DBR has already drawn attention several times to that – in international relations in terms of the average price the metro 4 project, as proceeding under a completely built area, deeply driven, being built a little more than 3 years in very adverse ground conditions, is not the cheapest, but belongs to the middle field, and its budget has increased in the past 10 years primarily due to the involved associated projects.
BORING MACHINES OF METRO 4 ARE WORKING ON A SECTION WITH FULL OF CHALLENGES
South TBM of metro 4 could be launched towards Rákóczi Square three weeks ahead of schedule, and it now passed the line of the tunnels of metro 3, and its north pair will embark soon as well. The length between Fővám Square and Kálvin Square has been completed with the best pace up to date, and for the twice as long current section the experts plan only eight weeks either. Of course, provided they don’t have to face unexpected difficulties. In any case, it is not going to be an easy section: in addition to the crossing tunnels, diverse ground conditions should be expected, and some old buildings will require special attention, as well.
VIENNA METRO IS NOT CHEAPER THAN THE BUDAPEST ONE – CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF METRO 4 FALL IN THE INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE FIELD
From time to time, the press posts news about sensationally cheap foreign metro constructions, which cost only a fraction of the Budapest metro 4 investment. The DBR Metro Project Directorate attends to all these news, and up to date in all these cases it turned out that the numbers referenced under the examples are incorrect. Unfortunately for most of the time, until we obtain the appropriate, credible information, the incorrect statement has already spread all over the press, and it is almost impossible to refute. We would like to prevent a similar case through our statement as follows.
THE UNDERPASS AND THE TRAM STOP AT FŐVÁM SQUARE IS HANDED OVER, SO AS OF SATURDAY MORING TRAM No2 CAN TRAVEL OVER THE WHOLE LINE AGAIN
Residents of Budapest could take over the pedestrian underpass at Fővám Square, which was built in one and a half years in the frame of the surface projects associated with metro 4. The spacious and modern underpass, which also includes the new stop of tram No 2, was handed over for the passengers on Friday afternoon by Gábor Demszky, the Mayor of Budapest and Gusztáv Klados, the Project Director of DBR. Rehabilitation of the Vámház boulevard was completed by the beginning of this week, another traffic lane could be opened at Kálvin Square, and motorist and cyclist can use the Múzeum boulevard again, as well. The metro project has arrived to an important milestone, by the narrowing of work sites and good progress of surface works the metro builders are hoping that the days of those living and travelling in the environment of the construction would become easier.
IMPORTANT MILESTONES ON THE SURFACE AS WELL: THE VÁMHÁZ BOULEVARD IS COMPLETED, SO AS THE NEW LANE AT KÁLVIN SQUARE AND PARTIALLY THE MÚZEUM BOULEVARD
In connection with the surface works of the metro project until now mostly closures and traffic restrictions may have been heard of. From now on, however, more and more associated surface projects will be completed, and respectively where it is possible – despite of the extended tunneling works, simultaneously with the progress of station building works – the narrowing down of the work sites may commence. In the frame of the associated surface projects of metro 4 the reconstruction of the tram track on Kiskörút ended last December, and by today the rehabilitation of the Vámház Boulevard is completed, a new traffic lane could be opened at Kálvin Square and the motorists and cyclist may drive on both sides of the partially renewed Múzeum Boulevard again.
SOUTH TUNNEL BORER ARRIVED TO KÁLVIN SQUARE
The south TBM of metro 4 has reached Kálvin Square in one month, and its north pair will arrive to the station at the end of October. In the frame of a several month negotiation series on the program of the tunnel works BAMCO consortium now led by STRABAG has submitted the works program for the finishing of the Pest side tunnel section. According to the document the consortium can build the tunnel section between Fővám Square and Baross Square in about 50 weeks instead of the originally undertaken 22 weeks, in other words it takes more than double time. DBR is forced to note the announcement, but cannot accept it, thus all additional costs arising from the delay due to the extended tunneling works will be devolved on BAMCO consortium. In the last couple of days DBR's programming team has incorporated the new works program into the overall project program, and with consideration of the contractor's accumulated delays at the Buda side also the operation test originally planned in the last quarter of 2011 now may realistically be due 10 months later, in the autumn of 2012 only. The negotiations will continue, of course.
ARTSTATION: THE TUNING HAS BEGUN
ALL DAY UNDERGROUND FESTIVAL AT THE NÉPSZÍNHÁZ STREET STATION
DBR’s cultural series of events of this year has arrived to its last stage: with the name of ArtStation the Suppré/Neopaint.hu is organizing an all day street art festival at the metro 4 Népszínház Street station built by the consortium comprising Bilfinger, Porr and Vegyépszer on Saturday this week.
HERE IS THE FIRST WORK SITE HANDED BACK TO CITY RESIDENTS
This morning the metro builders handed over to the children of District 11 that modern playground, which was refurbished in the framework of surface projects in relation to the construction of metro 4. On the event Imre Lakos, chairman of the Committee of Urban and Environmental Management of Budapest, Gyula Molnár, mayor of Újbuda, and Gusztáv Klados, project director of DBR were also present. However, the light is not seen at the end of the tunnel yet, but after those closures the time of handing back areas may begin.
ABOUT THE ROLE OF GUSZTÁV KLADOS
Gusztáv Klados has worked on the constructions of metros 2 and 3 of Budapest, and then in Calcutta at the metro construction there, and later as a chief building manager at the construction of the Channel Tunnel beneath the English Channel between England and France. Subsequently, he worked as a building manager in Lesotho, South Africa, where he was building a section of the northern water transport tunnel, and then he acted as the chief building manager for the metro lines 2 and 3 of Athens. From here he went to Singapore, where he directed the works of the deep tunnel sewerage system. For five years he was the senior project manager of the gigantic Smart Tunnel of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, and then after an airport express metro as a short detour in New Delhi he returns home to Hungary in June 2008.
SOUTH TUNNEL BORER OF METRO 4 EMBARKED TOWARDS KÁLVIN SQUARE
South TBM of metro 4 left Fővám Square station this morning and according to plans can arrive to Kalvin Square by the middle of October, while its north pair will follow it in two weeks. Simultaneously with the several weeks of maintenance the tunnel builder moved its TBM servicing equipment to St. Gellért Square, so the logistics headquarters of the construction of Pest side tunnels will be here from now, up until the boring machines reach Baross Square next year.