Road building

One of Hungary's most significant road improvement projects completed in Sopron

Published

2024. 12. 20. 10:59

Magyar Építők

We've been following the construction of the M85 tunnel, which has been a highly challenging project, and we'll be presenting a short retrospective at the inauguration.

On 14 December, in the presence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the final section of the M85 motorway and the tunnel built at Bécsi Hill were inaugurated near Sopron. The Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium project was carried out by a consortium of Dömper Kft., Subterra-Raab Kft. and Pannon-Doprastav Kft.. In this project, the scaffolding works for the insulation of the inner surface of the tunnel wall were carried out by Kft. Square Shoring using solutions from Layher.

The project, which completed the M85 investment series, included the construction of a 4.2-kilometre section between the Fertőrákos junction and the border with Sopron, as well as the 780-metre tunnel pair located on this section.

During the mining work, the technicians worked tens of metres underground

As part of the project, two overpasses were built in addition to the 780-metre-long road tunnel at the Sopron-West interchange and the Sopron-Northwest bypass intersection. A 3.6-kilometre section of the Sopron north-western bypass was handed over in May, and the two-lane section of main road 84, which was already in use, was renovated all the way to the border crossing.

During the construction of the 780-metre-long pair of tunnels, the mining workers worked tens of metres underground. Safe and accident-free traffic in the tunnel is ensured by 34 cameras, emergency and fire alarm push buttons, LED traffic control signs, pavement temperature indicators, traffic counting devices, active pavement prisms, light density sensors, ventilation fans, sound and light signalling devices and loudspeakers.

The Vienna-Dombe tunnel, one of the biggest domestic road projects of the year, according to ÉKM

the first high-speed road tunnel in Hungary to be entirely publicly invested. The project involved the construction of approximately 18 500 m3 of hydraulic binder base course, 18 260 m3 of asphalt and 3 240 m3 of concrete track structure.

First the southern, then the northern header took place

We followed the tunnel construction, which presented significant technical challenges, step by step with our on-site photo reports and videos, so we were also there in October 2020. when the construction of the primary structure began with a church blessing and 24-hour work shifts.

Another milestone was reached when, after more than a year and a half of drilling, on 1 July 2022 the southern passage of the tunnel reached the western side, thus completing the breakthrough of the passage.

Of equal significance was the fact that in February of the following year, they reached the northern passage, meaning that the excavation started from both directions had met.

Separate software for tunnel management

Finally, in July this year, we reported in another extensive article that the SDD Konzorcium had been completed with the tunnel pair. After the completion of the track structure, which was covered with a 26 cm thick layer of basalt concrete, the technical handover was successfully completed on 1 July. The SCADA software responsible for tunnel control was launched and complex operational testing of the system components was also carried out.

This was followed by a trial operation lasting nearly six months, during which Magyar Koncessziós Infrastruktúra Fejlesztő Zrt. tested the system as the tunnel operator – successfully conducting a disaster management exercise, among other things. During the trial operation, more than 120 traffic situations were tested in the tunnel to ensure traffic safety.

Today we have 10 motorways reaching the border

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on the Day of Loyalty, Sopron's biggest celebration, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that in the past 15 years the Government has spent HUF 4,200 billion on road development, and 870 kilometres of motorways and roads have been built and expanded since 2010. "Today, 21 cities with county status can be reached by four-lane roads, and the number will rise to 22 next year," he said. "In Hungary, including the M85 motorway, there are now 10 expressways reaching the national border, compared to only three in 2010."

Mr Orbán also said that the motorway link to the M44 expressway at Kecskemét will be completed next year, and the first stage of the M49 and the new section of the M4 are also under preparation. "Today, ten four-lane motorways reach the border, and in ten years' time, the number will rise to 19," he said.

He said that next year more than 300 investments worth around HUF 8100 billion will be launched, making Hungary a true interconnection, trade and distribution hub in Europe.

Sopron city centre can finally breathe a sigh of relief

The mayor, Ciprián Farkas (Fidesz-KDNP), recalled that the M85 motorway, 93 kilometres long, crosses the region. "This road has reconnected the most faithful city in the country's bloodstream. Transport has become safer and more comfortable, and unprecedented new opportunities have been and are opening up for the city," he said.

The opening of the section of road leading to the border also means that the city centre of Sopron can finally "breathe a sigh of relief" from the burden of passing freight traffic, creating a ring road around the city which will also considerably ease traffic difficulties.

Attila Barcza, Fidesz Member of Parliament for Sopron and its region, said that the tunnel under the Vienna Hill is a triumph of human expertise and will, of which we can all be proud. "Thanks to the measures taken by the government, the city can at last play the role that was taken away from it in 1921," he added.

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