Development of another key Debrecen hub has started

We previously reported that a comprehensive transport investment project is to be launched in Debrecen with the development of four junctions.

On the Debrecen section of Main Road 33, preparatory work began in March on the development of the Balmazújvárosi/Füredi Road – Szabó Lőrinc Street – Csigekert Street junction, and construction actually began on 22 April with the installation of traffic restrictions. The main contractors for the project are Debreceni Mélyépítő Holding Kft. and "KE-VÍZ 21" Zrt., and the client is Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium.

The contract was signed on 6 March 2025, with 16 months for implementation, and the project is scheduled to be completed in July 2026. Adám Tamás, Project Manager of KE-VÍZ, commented on the current stage of the works.

Priority is given to utility replacements

The expert informed that the first step of the project is the replacement of the large drinking water and waste water pipelines, which will be carried out on behalf of the Municipality of Debrecen. This will be followed by the road works and other utility replacements, including hydrocarbon, communication, electricity lines, traffic light substructure and street lighting network.

The dense network of utilities under the hub and their deep location pose major organisational and technical challenges. Nevertheless, nearly 90% of the contracted tasks can be carried out with minimal, ad hoc modifications to the current traffic restriction regime. Additional restrictions will only be necessary during asphalt milling and large asphalt paving works.

Construction work is underway to ensure congestion-free traffic

The expert said that thanks to the leaders of the City of Debrecen and the Magyar Közút NZrt., a temporary traffic engineering design has been introduced that allows both efficient construction and smooth, safe traffic on the main road.

According to the current traffic regime, traffic on the Balmazújváros / Füredi road is 2×1 lane, without traffic lights, with concrete buffer elements. The cross traffic from Szabó Lőrinc and Csigekert streets has been eliminated due to deep utility interventions.

The traffic regime established in Phase I - i.e. the elimination of cross traffic and the provision of main road lanes - is expected to remain in place until early November 2025. Construction of the asphalt wearing course and final traffic engineering elements is scheduled to be completed in spring 2026, he said.

Coordination of several investments in one worksite

In parallel with the junction development, other works are also underway in the same area: in addition to the ÉKM road project, Opus-Titász is carrying out medium voltage network upgrades, while the replacement of the water utilities is also underway on behalf of the municipality.

"I think it is important to underline that it is a challenging task to implement and coordinate the replacement of the numerous, large, deep utility lines under the junction while maintaining continuous and uninterrupted traffic"

- he said.

"The coordination of parallel works requires continuous cooperation and serious organisation on the part of both the investor and the contractor," the project manager concluded.