THE REINSTATEMENT OF MÓRICZ ZSIGMOND KÖRTÉR CONTINUES

The surface reinstatement at the Móricz Zsigmond körtér (circus) station of Metro Line M4 has come to a new phase: the replacement of the pavement. According to plans, this phase will be completed during the summer, the renewal of the entire circus will be finished at the end of the year. In contrast to earlier plans, the new concept prioritizes public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, thus a new quarter hub with decreased traffic will come into being in the heart of the district in the coming months.

In connection to the construction of the station of Metro Line M4, Mayor István Tarlós and the Municipal Assembly requested Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) to review the designs of the surface reinstatement of Móricz Zsigmond körtér, which BKK started in the summer of 2011. With the involvement of local government of District XI, the road-building and traffic-planning designs were completed in the spring of 2012 harmonizing with the design work on the renovation of the Mushroom Building in the middle of the circus. Móricz Zsigmond körtér being a busy traffic hub, the opinions of all sides represented at comprehensive professional discussions were taken into account in the final designs, while we ensured that financial coverage for the concept is available. The commencement of the works was delayed by the long winter; reinstatement could thus be resumed only now, April 2013.

Instead of the slippery, fractured lime, non-slip pavement is being laid.

The renovation of the Mushroom in the circus and the pavement around it is carried out by the Újbuda local government, while it is the M4 Project that will remove the old slippery lime pavement and put non-slip concrete slabs all over the area of the circus. The works are carried out by contractors according to their different but harmonized schedules.

The Mushroom houses the BKV transformer supplying the current for the trams on Bartók Béla út, Fehérvári út and partly on Villányi út. Within the framework of the M4 project, this transformer is to be moved down into the Móricz Zsigmond körtér station of the metro. Structurally and mechanically, the new transformer room is now complete alongside the the fit-out works of the station, and one of its three units has been installed by the contractor.

As the new transformer of the BKV has to be installed while the energy supply of busy tram lines is uninterrupted, the old transformer and the connecting electricity works substation has to be operated all the while. BKV Zrt. DBR Metro Project Directorate continues to examine the possibilities of parallel operation, and does all it can to ensure the completion of these works during the summer at the latest.

The circus will be used primarily by pedestrians and cyclists.

The designers envisioned a space with decreased traffic and used primarily by pedestrians, cyclists and public transport vehicles. The central role of this city quarter however requires certain changes, primarily with a view to buses and trams. The changes in public transport are being currently worked out and finalized. The routes of several buses will be changed, but the entire modification process will be completed in concert with the M4 Project and its related investments. The tram stop will have an elevated platform in conformity with the new trams to be purchased.

Aside from the passage of Bartók Béla út, car traffic will significantly restricted. Aside from trams, only buses and bicycles will be allowed to pass in front of buildings nos. 14 and 16 in the circus. The roadway will be built to meet these requirements, and goods transport will also be limited. A 2-cm level difference and optical elements will distinguish the road for vehicle passage from the other areas of the circus, and traffic compliance will be surveilled by a system of cameras capable of reading number plates.

The priority of the designers was to create a primarily pedestrian area. Pedestrian traffic will be able to use a unified free space with ornamental concrete-slab pavement, which will articulate the space with its colours and forms. In the coming months, a city hub with decreased traffic will be created with the help of signboards, where bicycles will also find it easier and simpler to move about.

The full reinstatement of the circus continues in several phases. The pavement-laying works commenced are expected to be completed by this summer, and the full reinstatement of the circus will be completed at the of the year.

Mayor’s Office of the Municipality of Budapest
Budapest Transport Centre (BKK)
BKV Zrt. DBR Metro Project Directorate

Related material:

http://www.bkk.hu/2012/10/a-fovarosi-kozgyules-dontott-a-moricz-zsigmond-korteri-forgalmi-rend-atalakitasarol/

Photos by Szabolcs Pető, DBR