Metro construction on Fővám Square: from May 14 the lower quay on the Pest side between Közraktár Street and Belgrád Quay will be closed for traffic for three and a half months

The preparations to the construction of the Fővám Square metro station started in March with the replacement of utilities. The next milestone of the project is May 14, when the construction of station structure is commenced with the construction of 40 to 46 meter deep diaphragm walls.

Due to the works, the section of the lower quay between Közraktár Street and Belgrád Quay will be completely closed for traffic. Possibly tram line No 2 and the upper quay will be closed in the affected area starting from June 21. Buses will replace tram traffic along the closed route. Simultaneous closure of traffic along the lower and the upper quays on the Pest side is inevitable between June 21 and September 2. In faraway junctions, traffic signs warn drivers offering alternative routes.
Metro construction will not affect the business of hotels, shops, and places of entertainment on Kálvin Square, Fővám Square and in the neighboring streets. There will be no change in the opening hours and in the standard of services offered. After the completion of construction works the Fővám Square and its close environs will be practically renewed; the square area in front of the University will be paved in a decorative stone, and a significant part of the Square will be available for pedestrian traffic. The reduction of motorist traffic along the public roads makes possible the extension of the pedestrian zone. The construction Fővám Square station is expected to be completed by the middle of 2009.
What alternate routes are available for motorist traffic?
The North and South-bound traffic along the lower quay are among the most intensive routes of the downtown area. A detour across Fővám Square may partly substitute the section of the quay beneath the Szabadság Bridge, but this detour can handle in a trouble-free manner only part of the traffic of the closed quay. Only re-routing at faraway junctions to alternative routes of the traffic leading to the quay may relieve the traffic along the critical section. The following alternative routes are suggested for motorists to bypass the quay:
- Towards Hungária Boulevard and Dózsa György Road from the North on the Pest side, before reaching the quay;
- Towards József Attila Street along the quay in the vicinity of the LáncBridge Bridge; and
- Towards Könyves Kálmán Boulevard, VágóBridge Street, Haller Street and felé and Ferenc Boulevard from the South.
The motorists are asked to drive particularly carefully in the area in the oncoming months and take the alternative routes shown in the road signs placed in faraway junctions, if possible.
Changes affecting trolleybus No 83
Simultaneously with the closure of the quay, trolleybus line No 83 will be temporarily closed too, because the overhead lines need to be dismantled due to the machines to be installed on the upper quay, including, for example, the sludge cleaning station. From May 14 two new lines will circulate along the route of trolleybus bus No 83:
- trolleybus No 89 will carry passengers between Orczy Square and Kálvin Square along the route Orczy Square – Baross Street – Kálvin Square – Üllői Road (reverse) – Baross Street – Orczy Square;
- bus No 83 replacing the trolleybus will carry passengers along the original route of trolleybus No 83: Orczy Square - Baross Street - Mária Street – Kinizsi Street - Közraktár Street - Fővám Square – Vámház Boulevard – Kálvin Square - Baross Street - Orczy Square; and
- the timetable of bus No 9 will change at the same time.
Milestones
In the environs of Fővám Square:
Closing of the lower quay May 14 2007
Closing of the upper quay June 21 2007
Suspension of tram No 2 June 21 2007
Closing of the Szabadság Bridge August 21 2007
opening of the lower quay September 02 2007
In the environs of Kálvin Square:
Opening of Török Pál Street for two-way traffic, new zebra crossing on the corner of Üllői Road June 1 2007
Relocation of traffic across Kálvin Square to the even-numbered side of the Square June 1 2007
For additional information on the construction of stations, the metro project and the changes affecting public transport call the Customer Service of BKV Zrt. at 06-80-406-688, visit our website at www.bkv.hu, and visit the information center of the fourth line of the Metro on Etele Square. Please send your comments to our E-mail address at info@metro 4.hu.
The experts of the Municipality of Budapest, BKV Zrt. and the construction companies do their best to complete the works to the planned deadline, causing the least amount of inconvenience to the residents.