The Tokaj-Zemplén region moves up a level with road renovation

The new development of the 37 motorway will not only make transport more comfortable for locals, but will also facilitate tourist access to the Tokaj wine region. The investment is an important element of the programme developed by the Tokaj Wine Region Development Council. The aim of the complex development plan is to make the Tokaj-Zemplén region the third most attractive tourist region in the country after Budapest and Lake Balaton. This requires safe and good quality access roads to the wine region.

Our newspaper continuously monitors developments in the region: in another programme in 2021, as part of the implementation of HE-DO, the rel="noopener">the intersection of main roads 37 and 38 was rebuilt into a roundabout, and in 2023, with the work of Duna Aszfalt Zrt., Main Road 37 will be expanded to four lanes between Gesztely and Szerencs.

Now, the road surface is being renewed on a 12.66-kilometre section of Main Road 37, from the administrative border of Bodrogolaszi to the Erdőbénye junction (at the border of Szegilong). The project is being implemented as part of the Magyar Közút Nonprofit Zrt. investment, under the HE-DO contract. Our Magyar Közút page informed us that the work site was handed over to the contractor on 21 August 2024.

Old, dangerous trees are felled and several bridges are renovated

The rehabilitation of the affected section of Highway 37 will include the pavement milling followed by the installation of a profile improvement layer in places, and then one and two layers of asphalt reinforcement, depending on the load-bearing capacity of the existing road structure. The rehabilitation will also include trench and embankment repairs. The resurfaced embankment will be renewed and the width marker posts and all KRESZ signs will be replaced.

The task includes shrub and tree clearance, which will include the felling of 270 over-mature trees. The section of road to be renovated runs near the Bodrog, crossing several small streams. The works will therefore affect a total of 9 bridges, four of which will be reconstructed and the other five will be resurfaced.

Further plans to boost the region

György Wáberer, Co-Chairman of the Tokaj Wine Region Development Council, told us:

"The rehabilitation of the road network will continue as planned. Once this reconstruction is completed, only the 11-kilometre section of the 37 between Mád and Erdőbénye will need to be repaired - and we hope that this will be completed in the near future. We would like to ensure that people coming from Budapest can approach the Tokaj wine region or the Zemplén region by safe and high-quality roads, as this will strengthen the region's tourist attractiveness."

He added that the development of the region started with a situation analysis and the setting up of a strategy. An operational programme was then drawn up, setting out the development paths for the region up to 2030. The programme was adopted by the Hungarian government last year.

"Our task is to coordinate and unify the developments and resources coming into the region, so that they are implemented as a coherent, mutually reinforcing programme", the Co-President concluded.