THÖKÖLY ÚT BETWEEN BAROSS TÉR AND DÓZSA GYÖRGY ÚT OPENS ON SATURDAY FOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC AGAIN

BKK as the road maintenance provider of the Budapest Municipality has completed the renewal of one of the worst-condition, cobble-stone main throughways of Budapest. On 30 November 2013, the road, Thököly út, will thus be handed over to vehicle traffic between Baross tér and Dózsa György út. Following handing-over, the order of traffic will also change for motorcars, buses and cyclists; a bus lane will be in the middle, and bicycle lanes have also been made. The terminus of the no. 178 bus has been moved to the junction of Thököly út and Verseny utca, and the stops for other buses are returned to their original places.

Driving along Thököly út again

As of Saturday morning, drivers can expect new conditions in Thököly út between Baross tér and Dózsa György út, as a continuation of the sections of Thököly út already completed in recent years. The section of Thököly út Baross tér and Hernád utca, connected to Keleti Railway Station, was renewed in the frameworkd of the Metro Line M4 Project, while the section between Hernád utca and Dózsa György út was renewed by BKK itself. The entire sub-structure of the 322-metre section was replaced: the cobble-stone surface was removed, the remains of the tram line unused and unusable should the tram line be reinstated in the mid-term. For traffic safety, the five pedestrian crossings and the lighting system of the road were renewed, and two lamps were assembled at the pedestrian crossing at Hernád utca. Equal access requirements were particularly taken into consideration at the new pedestrian crossings: for the safe movement of the blind and destitute of vision, pavements edges were lowered and tactile stripes were put in place. The renewal involved making a bus lane in the middle of the road in the direction of the city centre, bicycle lanes on both sides and a parking lane on the side in the direction of Dózsa György út. The pavements were also provided with modern surface treatment.

Changes in Traffic Order

Several changes were introduced in the traffic order of the renewed section of Thököly út:

- The section of Thököly út between Dózsa György út and Baross tér can now be accessed from the directions of Rákóczi út and Kerepesi út, as well as Dózsa György út;
- From the direction of Zúgló, the road will be opened to all vehicle traffic on Saturday; however, only public transport traffic will be allowed into the road from the direction of Rákóczi út until 20 February 2014 because of the surface reinstatement works in Baross tér. Other vehicles can reach Thököly út via the Kerepesi út–Baross tér detour.
- Vehicles en route towards Dózsa György út will have a single lane, but a left-turn lane for public transport before the junction of Dózsa György út will accelerate the movement of the nos. 20E, 30, 30A, and 230 buses.
- Traffic going towards the city centre will have a bus lane and a motor car lane.
- The temporary traffic order in the junction of Thököly út and Dózsa György út will cease; according to the new order, traffic from Heroes’ Square will have no opportunity to turn left, and there will be two lanes for forward and one for right-turn traffic.
- Vehicles will again be able turn left into Fiumei út from Baross tér.
- Vehicles from Rottenbiller utca will again be able to turn left towards Baross tér.

The Bicycle Lanes

In the renewed section of the road, a bicycle lane on either side has been made, but the lanes cannot go through Baross tér during the constructions, and so cyclist will have to use other lanes, in accordance with the rules of the traffic code. Until the completion of the surface reinstatement works of the Metro Line M4 station, we suggest that cyclists use the side streets towards the city centre from the Murányi utca.

Minor changes in public transport

As of the handing-over of the renewed section on Saturday, passengers of the no. 178 bus will have a new terminal at their disposal at the junction of Thököly út and Verseny utca, providing opportunity for boarding and alighting. The temporary boarding stop at 12 Thököly út ceases.

Simultaneously, the stop of the nos. 5, 7, 7A, 133E, 233E, 907, and 973 buses heading towards Bosnyák tér will be returned from Reiner Frigyes park to 21 Thököly út, its original place.

As of Saturday (30 November), the no 20E bus will approach the Keleti Railway Station stop via Thököly út, not Verseny utca. And nos. 30, 30A and 230 buses heading towards Keleti Railway Station will turn into Thököly út form the directions of György út, Verseny utca and Murányi utca. The location of the Keleti Railway Station stop for these lines will not be changed.

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

Photo by Dávid Nyitrai (BKK)