REINSTATEMENT OF BAROSS TÉR BEGINS
The box structure of the M4 Station at Keleti Railway Station was completed in the autumn of 2011, and, currently, fit-out works are being done on the station – operation areas, the platform being finished, lifts and escalators installed. Parallel, the tracks are being constructed, and electronic and power supply systems are being installed. The station will be completed in 2013, and will open to the public following testing and handover, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2014 according to the current time schedule.
In the spring of 2008, major traffic diversions were imposed due to the progress of the construction of the station box. Under the scope of its contract, the station-box contractor completed all the utilities diversions, pavement and road building along the inner part of Thököly út parallel to constructing the turn-out and cross-over needed due to the temporary terminus function of the station. However, the surface refurbishment of the square is realized in the framework of another contract. The open public procurement procedure was completed in the summer of 2012, and the HUF 4.31 billion contract was concluded with the winning bidder SC Baross 2012 Consortium (STRABAG MML Kft. and COLAS-ALTERRA Zrt.) at the end of September 2012.
Taking the givens of the project into account, BKK updated the former concepts, agreeing them with the districts and authorities concerned. Accordingly, BKK has made the following changes:
• Taking the 2x1 lane design of Thököly út into account, the modification of the cross section and distribution of lanes of the junction to increase the green and pedestrian areas;
• Creation of bicycle lanes to enable cyclists to cross the junction in all the main directions;
• Decrease of the transfer distances between metro exits and other means of transport at the surface and improvement of transfer links between surface transport modes.
The main elements of the surface reinstatement at Baross tér are as follows:
1. Reconstruction of the junction between Rottenbiller utca, Rákóczi tér út, Fiumei út, Kerepesi út, and Thököly út, and the demolition of the subway at the end of Rákóczi út.
Vehicles on the way to Thököly út will not need to turn towards Kerepesi út and move along in front of Keleti Railway Station, but will be able to go along straight on the Northern side of the square. According to the design, the lane will be separated from oncoming traffic by a green, shrub traffic island. The subway at the end of Rákóczi út will be demolished, and a fully accessible pedestrian crossing will be in its place.
2. Refurbishment of the square in front of Keleti Railway Station, the reconstruction of the existing subway and the construction of the subway connection to the new metro line
As one of the most spectacular elements of the surface reinstatement works, the subway, which will now be serving two metro lines, will be partially covered by terrace-like roof slabs with trees, shrubs and grass on them; this will directly connect to the space to be shaped in front of the railway station building, one side of which will be a park-like area for rest and the other a pedestrian axis providing easy connection between Bethlen Gábor utca and Festetich utca. The two-level space will be accessible from all sides through traffic-light pedestrian crossings and the subway. At the southern end of the two-level space, the bus lane from Rákóczi út and the Kerepesi út lanes will curve.
As a result of the reinstatement works, the statue of Gábor Baross will be returned to its former place, which will now be partly park, partly covered by granite tiles. This part of the square will be accessible by way of the pedestrian crossings and the subway from the exits of the metro lines.
3. Refurbishment on the Thököly út side of Keleti Railway Station, the area at the T-junction of the Verseny utca
On the suggestion of BKK deviating from the original design, the Thököly út bus and trolley terminuses will be moved to the Kerepesi út side of Keleti Railway Station, thus linking up with the current place of the terminus, and decreasing distances for pedestrians also. The parking lot and taxi station now on the Kerepesi út side will be moved to the Thököly út side in concord with the tree planting programme. At the T-junction of Thököly út and Verseny utca, short-while K+F stop areas will be made, and the BuBi bicycle rent station will also be placed here.
The terminuses of the numbers 20E and 30 buses, the numbers 73, 76 and 79 trolleys will be moved to the central part of the station, thus they will be closer to both the numbers 5, 7 and 173 bus stops and the railway station.
4. The reconstruction of the section of Thököly t between Verseny utca and Hernád utca
Within the scope of the M4 Project, the paving of Thököly út up to Hernád utca will be reconstructed. Car traffic will have one lane each way, and buses will have a separate lane, and bicycles a path. The biggest change in the appearance of Thököly út and the northern side of the square will be the widening of the pavement, providing increased space for pedestrians, while the newly planted trees will make the road be more pleasant and liveable.
According to plans, the reconstruction of the section of Thököly út between Hernád utca and Dózsa György út will be connected to the surface reinstatement works of the new metro line in both time and technical scope, as funded by the Municipality of Budapest and as a project promoted by BKK; connecting with the already reconstructed section of the road, the reconstruction will implement a unified cross section all along the road.
By the beginning of 2014, the new and final shape of Baross tér will simultaneously ensure a restored view of Keleti Railway Station as a national monument and the reinstatement of the original form of the square, the creation of a new city-centre space, better connection between community transport facilities, easy and fully accessible pedestrian movement, the community and rest functions of a public area, as well as a pedestrian axis in front of the Railway Station.
Budapest Transport Centre (BKK)
DBR Metro Project Directorate