A railway bridge weighing over two thousand tonnes is being moved across Soroksári út

Between 24 and 26 July, Soroksári út will be closed across its entire width between Kvassay Jenő út and Vágóhíd utca. A new bridge will be built in its place as part of the construction of the Southern Circular Railway.

The bridge was constructed from 120 steel components

In Phase II of the Southern Circular Railway, two new steel bridges of identical design will replace the existing structures at Soroksári út. According to information from the Ministry of Transport and Investment, the 109-metre-long and nearly 20-metre-wide structures will vary in height between 12 and 19 metres, with each weighing approximately 2,500 tonnes.

During the current phase of the works, the southern bridge structure, on the Budapest Park side, is being put in place.

The 120 steel components of the structure, which vary in size and design, have been assembled over the past few months at the on-site assembly area. The track slab is formed by ten cross-sections, each consisting of seven components, whilst the remaining structural elements comprise the truss members and the joint connections.

The 2,500-tonne structure is being moved in two directions

In the first phase of the operation, hydraulic jacks are used to raise the entire steel bridge to the required height. The self-propelled rolling platforms are then positioned beneath the structure to support its weight, after which the movement of the structure begins. The bridge first rolls across the assembly area, then, at Soroksári út, self-propelled rolling systems on scaffolding take over the structure, using which it is moved further in a transverse direction all the way to its final location.

During the project, bridge-slab-pushing technology will be used at a total of twelve structures at grade-separated junctions – with the exception of Soroksári út. However, certain structures, including the bridges over Soroksári út, Fehérvári út and Bartók Béla út, will also need to be moved transversely to ensure the continuity of rail traffic.

In Magyar Építők’s previous on-site report detailed the preparation and ongoing monitoring required for moving a bridge structure. The operation is supervised by surveyors, whilst experts monitor the bridge’s behaviour, any subsidence and lateral movements at all support points. In the event of an unexpected situation, the movement can be stopped immediately and the structure securely secured.

The new bridges will serve several purposes

Once the relocation is complete, work will begin on the cable structures, the overhead line system and the railway track. The southern bridge is expected to be opened to temporary traffic at the end of October, whilst the northern bridge structure is scheduled to be installed in autumn 2027.

The two steel bridges currently under construction on Soroksári út will also form the supporting structure for the new Közvágóhíd railway station.

The four-track station, with a central platform, will be built with a platform area of approximately 3,000 square metres and a passenger concourse of 2,041 square metres. Passengers will be served by four lifts, six escalators and seven conventional staircases, providing direct interchange connections between the railway, the HÉV, trams and buses. 

One of the capital’s most important transport hubs is taking shape

On Friday afternoon, Dávid Vitézy, Minister for Transport and Investment, drew attention to the following on his Facebook page:

The bridge structure currently being installed will form part of the new Közvágóhíd railway station, which – as he wrote – is set to become one of Budapest’s most important transport hubs.

Direct connections will be established between the railway, the HÉV, trams and buses, thereby significantly improving transport links in the southern Pest area and the wider metropolitan area, he emphasised. According to the minister, once the Southern Circular Railway is completed, more suburban and long-distance trains will be able to run through Budapest, bottlenecks in the network will be reduced, and faster, more reliable rail links will be established to many parts of the country.
The current restrictions are temporary, but the completed project will make day-to-day travel easier for the people of Budapest and those living in the wider metropolitan area for decades to come, noted Dávid Vitézy.

You can watch the spectacular show from the venue’s outdoor seating area

Budapest Park has informed MTI that there will be no concerts on Friday or Saturday, but – as the area in front of Budapest Park offers an ideal vantage point from which to view the spectacular works – the park will be welcoming visitors on Friday and Saturday with a temporary outdoor seating area, drinks and music from Park FM.