Szeged's industrial development gets a new boost - The expansion of the 5 main road is here

The transport infrastructure of the Szeged Industrial Park is undergoing a major upgrade, commissioned by Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium and implemented by Colas. The section of Main Road 5 between the M43 motorway and the ELI-ALPS laser research centre will be expanded to two lanes in each direction, and new roundabouts, cycle paths and junctions will make the industrial park easily accessible. The investment plays a key role in serving the industrial capacity of the region, with particular regard to the traffic needs of the BYD car factory currently under construction.

Traffic on the main road will be guaranteed during the construction works

The project is being carried out by Colas Út Zrt. specialists based on plans prepared by Út-Teszt Kft., which is being updated by subcontractor Makadám 2000 Kft.. The project affects both indoor and outdoor areas. The handover of the work site on 25 February was preceded by comprehensive consultations involving the contractor, Magyar Közút Nonprofit Zrt., the Szeged City Council and companies operating in the area, including BYD. Traffic on Main Road 5 must be maintained throughout the construction period.

Complete demolition of the old 5 track structure

The capacity increase on the 5 motorway will cover about 2.2 km of both external and internal sections. In addition, 1.6 km of cycle paths, new roundabouts and utility replacements will be built. The entire road structure of the old Route 5 will be demolished and the existing roundabouts will be resurfaced with kerbs, paving and asphalt layers. The project will involve a total of 30 000 m³ of cut and 5 600 m³ of fill.

Multi-level construction - work is carried out in several stages at the same time

The basic requirement is to ensure the continuous flow of normal through traffic and the large construction traffic for the BYD factory under construction, so work will be phased depending on the areas available. The four main phases of the works are the construction of the traffic circulation, the demolition of the old roadway, the earthworks and the construction of the new roadway structure.

Once a particular section is completed, traffic can be diverted to it and work can continue on the next section.

For the overall project, progress is around 15 percent. This is due to the fact that the main part of this year so far has been spent on planning and permitting. All construction work should start in the autumn once the final permits have been obtained.

Construction in parallel

One of the keys to the project is working in parallel. Work is taking place on several sections at the same time: the main road and sections of the cycle path running parallel to it are being built at the same time. As traffic is diverted and more land is acquired, more and more areas can be covered.
The number of people working on the construction
will vary dynamically depending on the current work progress. The earthmoving machines have been working continuously since the beginning of the project, with two additional machine lines being added during the asphalt paving. Subcontractors for other specialist works and archaeologists are present at each site.

After 30 thousand cubic metres of earthworks, 15 thousand tonnes of asphalt are paved

During the project, the entire old road structure of Main Road 5 will be demolished, except for the roundabouts, where the pavement will be reinforced and the kerbs replaced. A 50 cm stabilised earthwork will be built for the renewed and expanded main road, on which 25-25 cm thick repair and frost protection layers will be applied. Approximately 15,000 tonnes of asphalt will be laid in three layers, with a total thickness of 23 cm, on top of the 20 cm Ckt-4 pavement base. The latter will be provided by the Colas Út Zrt. mixing plant in Kiskunfélegyháza and the Délút Kft. mixing plant in Algyő. The milled asphalt and soil plastic are recycled.

Infrastructure will also be renewed and expanded

In parallel with the expansion, the replacement of low and medium voltage electrical and communication lines is also underway.
Stormwater drainage will be provided by an open trench system, part of which will be upgraded and new paved sections will be constructed. The street lighting is still at the design stage.

Digital models help efficiency

The construction is supported by digital models created by the Colas Út Zrt. BIM team, which allows excavation and track construction to be carried out with level-controlled machines. The technology not only enables more accurate and faster work, but also reduces unnecessary material handling.

Related improvements: new roundabout, exit ramp and cycle path

The project includes the reconstruction of the M43 motorway junction. A new direct exit will allow traffic heading towards Szeged to avoid the roundabout. The two existing roundabouts will be reinforced and the kerbs replaced, as the width of the road allows for half-lane closures, so the reconstruction can be carried out in two phases.
The development will also include the construction of 1.6 km of new cycle paths, starting from roundabout 502, passing under the M43 motorway bridge and continuing to the other side of the industrial estate. Construction started in September 2025 and half of the section will be completed by the end of the year.

New roundabout at the entrance to the BYD factory

To serve the industrial area, a new three-lane roundabout will be built on Highway 5, connecting the main entrance of the BYD factory to the main road.
The earthworks on the right side of the roundabout have been completed, the communications are currently being replaced, after which the construction of the track structure can start.
In addition, a new two-lane access road of approximately 150 metres is being constructed at the Wholesale Market,
which will provide BYD's second road connection to Highway 5. The site will be handed over to the contractors after archaeological excavations.
The project will also include the construction of the first 70 m section of the fourth branch of the roundabout at the junction of the 5 and 502 roads.

Szeged's new industrial gateway is scheduled to open in summer 2026

The extension of the 5 motorway and the construction of the related road facilities is one of the most important infrastructural pillars of Szeged's economic growth. Once the project is completed, not only will the traffic flow to the BYD plant be smoother, but road traffic in the entire region will be safer and faster.