Upgrade of Lánchíd Bridge by May

Four tenders in for work on Budapest’s Chain Bridge - Széchenyi Lánchíd.
By David Arminas December 23, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Budapest Széchenyi Lánchíd Bridge upgrade to start by mid-2021 (photo © Julianelliott/Dreamstime)

Upgrade work on the Hungarian capital's Chain Bridge will be underway by May, according to Napi.hu, a Hungarian online business news portal.

The bridge, officially the cast iron suspension Széchenyi Lánchíd, was built in 1849 as the first permanent bridge across the Danube River in Hungary. Although it was designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark and built by Scottish engineer Adam Clark, it was named after István Széchenyi, a major supporter of its construction.

Four local companies have tendered for the repair work - Strabag Altalanos Epito, SDD Konzorcium, Kozgep Epito- es Femszerkezetgyarto and A-Hid Epito. A winner is expectedc to be chosen early next year.

Upgrading has been at least two-years in the planning to improve the 380m-long, 14.8m-wide bridge. Cost issues  have hampered renovation planning

At the time of construction, its centre span of 202m was one of the longest in the world. The bridge has the official name of István Széchenyi, a major supporter of its construction, although it is commonly called the Chain Bridge.

The bridge was updated and strengthened in 1914 but during World  War Two it was destroyed in January 1945 by the retreating German occupation army. It was rebuilt by 1949 and remains as one  of only two surviving two bridges designed by William Tierney Clark. The other is the suspension bridge over the Thames at Marlow, England.

Maintenance

Related Content

  • ARTBA announces winners of its student video contest
    September 19, 2012
    The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has announced the winners of its annual student video contest. A group of 18 high school students from North Carolina and three graduate and post-graduate students from New England were named winners. Sponsored by ARTBA’s Research and Education Division (RED), the contest challenges grade school and post-secondary students to develop a brief video that explores issues relating to America’s transportation network. Students were asked to addres
    Read More
  • Bridge formwork solutions complete big bridge picture
    July 2, 2014
    Advanced bridge formwork solutions are allowing contractors to complete vital major highway infrastructure projects covering Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Poland. Guy Woodford reports Building the Labbdalen bridges in Norway is a key feature of the E6 highway improvement programme. Main project contractor HÆHRE tasked RMD Kwikform and Teknikk with supplying a complete formwork and shoring solution that could tackle the challenging Norwegian terrain, whilst preserving the environment. Situated two hours
    Read More
  • Bridge savings in Scotland to fund road improvements
    August 27, 2014
    The project to construct the new Forth Crossing close to Scottish capital Edinburgh is looking extremely positive, with cost savings envisaged for the bridge. The Queensferry Crossing scheme now looks to require slightly less funding than had been originally expected when the plans were unveiled in 2011, due in part to tight controls over spending. The bridge costs had been budgeted at close to €2 billion (£1.6 billion) initially but the project now looks likely to cost €1.81 billion (£1.45 billion). The sa
    Read More
  • Germany builds its first major PPI autobahn project
    July 7, 2015
    Rebuilding of one of the oldest motorways in Germany is testing out the possibilities for public-private project road construction reports Adrian Greeman A freshly renovated section of the A8 Autobahn in southern Germany will be watched with some interest this summer as traffic begins driving along its rebuilt carriageway and additional third lanes. That is not because of any special road features, other than a distinctive reddish colour to its concrete surface, but because it is a first fullscale public
    Read More

Highlighted Content