The market in Tapolca has been revitalised, with traders, shoppers and machinery all playing their part

The development was carried out by the local council of the town in the Balaton Uplands and Tapolca Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft., with the support of EU funding and through a consortium partnership. The market, which opened in 1969, is a key venue for the town’s economic and community life.

In this latest phase of the market’s refurbishment, the focus was primarily on the outdoor areas. The specialists from STRABAG Építő Kft. have, amongst other things, refurbished the goods delivery route, installed a new rainwater drainage system and resurfaced approximately 1,500 square metres of the outdoor trading areas.

Ensuring the smooth running of the market was a key factor in the organisation of work

“From a contractor’s perspective, the greatest challenge during the works was ensuring that the market could continue to operate without disruption,” said Zoltán Liszi following the completion of the project. The project manager for STRABAG added that, as the works were not carried out in a closed-off work area, the team had to constantly adapt to the daily routine of the market, as well as to the needs of stallholders and shoppers. Throughout the project, tasks were coordinated with the market operator during weekly meetings.

We had to find the common denominator

When drawing up the construction schedule, the organisation of the work phases was always determined by where in the market area space needed to be cleared for the delivery of goods, which parts needed to remain accessible, and how the worksite could be coordinated with the market’s operations.

The new route had to be found amongst utility lines and plane tree roots

From a technical point of view, the modernisation of the 231-metre-long stormwater drainage system constituted one of the most complex parts of the project. Due to the utility networks uncovered during construction, finding the optimal and actually viable sewer route required specialised engineering solutions. The work was further complicated by the need to work within the root zone of the trees that were to be preserved.

The sewer was relocated to a new route for operational reasons

Concrete pipes with diameters of NA 600 and NA 500 were used for the new rainwater drainage system. The system’s cleanability is ensured by NA 1000 concrete inspection chambers, whilst water intake is provided by NA 500 drainage inlets. Compared to the previous system, the sewer has been rerouted: the system has been relocated from beneath the market area to run entirely beneath the road surface, resulting in a design that is more favourable from both an operational and a maintenance perspective.

The outdoor retail area was constructed using two different layer configurations

The paving of the outdoor retail area has been renewed. The 1,500-square-metre surface has been constructed using two different layers, tailored to the anticipated load. The goods delivery route running through the centre of the area has been constructed with a durable, heavy-duty track structure: beneath the 8-centimetre-thick concrete paving slabs lies a 3-centimetre bed of NZ 2/5-grade basalt aggregate, a 20-centimetre-thick CKt-T4 sub-base and a 30-centimetre-thick, mechanically stabilised base layer of compacted crushed stone (designation M63) ensure appropriate load distribution.

The stratification of the sales area, which is subject to lower loads, consists of a 6-centimetre-thick concrete paving slab, a 3-centimetre bed of NZ 2/5 basalt aggregate, a 25-centimetre layer of FZK 0/63 crushed stone, and a 25-centimetre-thick, mechanically stabilised base layer of compacted crushed stone designated M63. Despite the varying thicknesses of the road structures, the concrete paving was laid using a uniform type of paving stone with an identical surface finish.
The asphalt surfaces were laid along the route of the new sewer, matching the existing road surfacing.

A more secure and easier-to-maintain interface has been created

One of the key outcomes of the refurbishment is that, instead of the previous design with breaks in the level, a uniform, level surface and a smooth gradient have been created. This has eliminated the previous trip hazards, whilst also providing a more advantageous solution from a maintenance perspective.

Zoltán Liszi added that the existing basalt kerbs were also reused during the works: the kerbs bordering the square were partly constructed by reusing these. This served to ensure durability, preserve existing heritage and achieve a more cost-effective outcome.

Protecting the plane trees required specialised construction solutions

One of the milestones of the project was the preservation of the four large plane trees. The work carried out in the root zone required particular care and specialised technical solutions. During the project, the specialists created new green spaces, planted four new trees, and carried out work aimed at improving the health of the existing trees.

New utility points are making everyday life easier for traders and shoppers

New water and electricity supply points have also been installed in the outdoor sales area. As part of the project, heating has also been installed in the covered sales area, with the installation of nine infrared heaters.

Freight transport has become more organised

Thirty-six new market stalls have been installed in the outer section of the market. Made with hot-dip galvanised steel legs and granite tops, the stalls provide a more durable and orderly environment for producers and traders.
The project has also improved the conditions for goods delivery. The goods delivery route has been retained in the centre of the market, whilst access to the main hall is now facilitated by redesigned ramps and a new access road. The development has also made the market’s day-to-day logistics more efficient.

The market, which has been modernised as part of the STRABAG project, creates a more orderly, safer and, in the long term, more sustainable environment for local producers, stallholders, shoppers and the operator in one of Tapolca’s key community spaces.