Thirty zebras have been added to the fifth largest city in our country

The Municipality of Pécs Megyei Jogú Város Municipality has invested in the construction of 30 pedestrian crossing points in the eastern part of the city, in the Southern Industrial Park, in the Mecsek area, in Kertváros and in Uranváros. The budget for the development areas was divided equally, with the district representatives proposing the locations of the crossings after a public needs assessment.

The large-scale zebra crossing project was prompted not only by the need to create conditions for increased vehicle traffic and safe pedestrian access, but also by the need for better accessibility to the new factories in the industrial park.

Work was going on at four or five sites at the same time

The STRABAG took delivery of the worksites and the traffic management plan prepared by the city at the end of February last year. At the request of the client, the construction of the pedestrian crossings was always carried out with a view to reducing traffic congestion during the summer period, if possible.
Typically, construction was carried out at 4-5 sites at a time, depending on the priorities set by the city and the available subcontractor capacity. Five subcontractors, specialised in their respective fields of
activity, are involved in the 30-site project. 

Pavement construction and lighting system installation

New crossings may be built subject to the consent and specifications of the traffic authority. In addition to the painting of pavement signs at each location, the works included: kerbing and pavement construction, adequate street lighting, pavement construction, extension of utilities, construction of stormwater drainage, and installation of traffic control lights at four locations.

Dinghy buoy on the central island

The improvements will make access to manufacturing plants in the southern part of the city easier and safer.
A number of new pedestrian crossings have also been built in the vicinity of schools and kindergartens - for example in Móra Ferenc, Malomvölgyi, Felső and Illyés Gyula streets.
New crossings have been built in the area of Árnyas liget and Siklósi út to improve access to pharmacies and shops.
Traffic lights and a pedestrian island at Siklósi and Béke út also help drivers and those trying to reach the buses. The biggest challenge for the contractors at this location was the existing site conditions: it is a junction with a heavy utility load and the existing pavement was narrow. In order to avoid the need to replace utilities at unreasonably high cost, and to avoid the need to take away additional pavement width, an unusual "boat mast" type traffic light post was installed in the middle island.

In addition to pedestrians, the smart-zebra also helps motorists

The development on Tildy Zoltán Street will improve road safety for residents of the nearby residential area and the community of the Kertvárosi Reformed Church. Pedestrian crossing will be assisted by a paved crosswalk raised out of the roadway plane. The site is one of those where after dark, the smart lights will also have pedestrian sensors to assist motorists passing through the area. Street lighting upgrades and the replacement of necessary utilities have also been carried out as part of the project.

The area around a pharmacy was rebuilt in response to requests from the elderly

Also in response to requests from the public - especially the elderly - for improved access to the pharmacy at the junction of Ady Endre and Red Cross roads. The improvements will include a new staircase and ramp to make pedestrian access easier in the area. In addition to the street lighting improvements, gas and water pipes were also replaced during the works.

Forward-looking plans

The Komlói road is an important four-lane transport corridor in the city, not only playing a key role in the management of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but also as a precursor to future development, as the area is part of a designated cycle route. Accordingly, the pedestrian crossing has been designed to ensure that cyclists can cross the pedestrian crossing in the future development of the cycle path. Traffic lights have also been installed at this junction.
Another interesting feature of this site is that, although it was planned to cut down several trees during the construction work, the need for this was reviewed in cooperation with the city's chief gardener. It was possible to save 2 plane trees with a minimal reduction in pavement width.
Pécs' 30-site road safety project is scheduled to be completed in May.