METRO GATES OPENED UP: WE GIVE YOU THE HELMET, YOU BRING YOUR CARDIGAN

This year again Metro 4 joined the “Urbitális Majális” show-series: DBR Metro Project Directorate of BKV Zrt., Strabag and Hídépítő opened up the gates of the constructions at Szent Gellért Square and Fővám Square, where the residents of Budapest guided by professionals were able to view the tunneling shields under the ground by 30 m and from below the Danube river-bed as well as the two deepest and most grandiose stations of the new metro line.
In 30 days nearly 200 cultural programs are awaiting the visitors at the “Urbitális Majális” this year, at the center of which the Danube gets the attention this year, and most of the shows and site visits are located close to or on the river. From 1st to 31st of May the “Big City Festival” allows an insight to the backstage of the big city life this year as well, with helping the people of Budapest to step out of everyday life for some moments and see their city from a completely different angel. The organizers enthused over the success of last year’s event anticipated several ten thousands of visitors to the program series.

Last year in two days nearly 2000 people visited the Bocskai road and Rákóczi Square stations of metro 4. This year the project has arrived to such an intensive phase that in compliance with work safety regulations and without hindering any works the experts can take somewhat less visitors (50 to 60 people per hour and per location) down to the stations. Registration was possible on the DBR’s website (www.metro4.hu) in the last couple of weeks, but for both locations plenty of free places remained, to where the experts welcomed new visitors an did everything for that to allow more people taking a look behind the scenes of Budapest’s largest investment. Both the Szent Gellért and Fővám Square stations were waiting the visitors between 9 am and 5 pm.

Budapest, 20th May 2009
DBR Metro Project Directorate

Szent Gellért Square station built by Strabag: Besides the close proximity of the Danube, its depth also makes the future station special, as the trains will travel 34 m deep under the surface. The station structure, the floor slabs, the base plate and the mining works are completed at the station. Movement of building CH of the University of Technology is settled. TBMs set off from here to their way under the Danube (first the south one, which will be followed by the north one, once the previous reached the Pest side). For the Pest side construction the TBM servicing system at Etele Square will be redeployed to this site by the tunnel builder, thus in a few weeks the delivery of tubbings, that comprise the tunnel walls, will take place from here, and respectively the removal of excavated muck up until TBMs reach the TBM disassembling chamber to be provided at the Baross Square station. It is especially interesting that linking to this station the line’s only connecting tunnel will be built here, through which the trains will be able to cross over from one tunnel to the other.

Fővám Square station built by Hídépítő: The deepest station of the entire line, with experts working 36 m deep under the surface. At the passenger trafficking area the structural works are finished, in the engineering area the floor slabs and walls are being built. Platform tunnels stretching under the Danube are completed, the station is able to receive the TBMs. The interior – similarly to its pair at the other side of the Danube – is multileveled with intercepting reinforced concrete grillage system, and the station’s architecture is defined by this exposed concrete grillage. As a result of the methodology and the architectural conception exploiting same, large interior spaces were created at the station, over which a large traffic-less space develops, which allows the sunlight to get to the platform level.