THE UNDERPASS AND THE TRAM STOP AT FŐVÁM SQUARE IS HANDED OVER, SO AS OF SATURDAY MORING TRAM No2 CAN TRAVEL OVER THE WHOLE LINE AGAIN
Residents of Budapest could take over the pedestrian underpass at Fővám Square, which was built in one and a half years in the frame of the surface projects associated with metro 4. The spacious and modern underpass, which also includes the new stop of tram No 2, was handed over for the passengers on Friday afternoon by Gábor Demszky, the Mayor of Budapest and Gusztáv Klados, the Project Director of DBR. Rehabilitation of the Vámház boulevard was completed by the beginning of this week, another traffic lane could be opened at Kálvin Square, and motorist and cyclist can use the Múzeum boulevard again, as well. The metro project has arrived to an important milestone, by the narrowing of work sites and good progress of surface works the metro builders are hoping that the days of those living and travelling in the environment of the construction would become easier.
Surface projects associated with the metro construction are about 15% of the overall project. One of the most important element of these is the total reconstruction of the whole Kiskörút, which will be realized in the frame of two major contracts, from a total of 12 milliard Forints. Among others the contracts include the renovation of the line of tram No 47 and 49, rehabilitation of the Kiskörút and surrounding streets, traffic islands, realization of public lighting, landscaping of squares and parks, and last but not least the reconstruction of a significant line section of tram No 2, and building of the pedestrian underpass at Fővám Square, as well.
Out of these at the beginning of this week motorists and cyclists could take over again the Vámház and Múzeum boulevards in full length, and by the narrowing of the Kálvin square work site another traffic lane opened through the square – providing traffic from the Szabadság Bridge towards the Astoria. Due to the station works within the area of the Fővám Square several streets are closed now. The whole work site can be handed back at the end of the construction only, but in the frame of the associated surface projects now the reconstruction of an important line section of tram No 2 is finished, and respectively the pedestrian underpass at Fővám Square is also completed.
From Saturday morning the No 2 quay tram can travel over the full line again, the 6 km track of which has now been renewed over a length of 440 m together with the BKV track rehabilitation works, from nearly 700 million Forints. This tram is probably the most popular rail transportation mean of Budapest, as it goes all along the River Danube, which provides a beautiful scenery, and passes by several famous sights of the city, such as the Parliament, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Vigado, and the Danube Corso. As a result of the good progress of the metro project the line may now be used again in full length without transfers and supplemental buses.
Simultaneously with the restarting of the traffic, from today the city residents may use the pedestrian underpass at Fővám Square also, construction works of which commenced in March 2008. The structure with a floor area of more than 1,000 m2, with service premises 1,200 m2, built from 1.7 milliard Forints ensures the pedestrian link between the surface streets, the university, the platform of tram No 2, and the future exit of metro 4. The tram is connecting to the underpass area at the west side, while the metro at the south side. In overall 4 stairways, 2 escalators and 2 elevators will provide – in the latter case especially to the elderly people and persons with disabilities – comfort of the city residents.