Two-week Disruption for Those Driving to Lake Balaton

The Kőröshegy viaduct on the M7 motorway will be fully closed for two weeks starting on September 2 for essential maintenance. This closure is crucial for motorists traveling to or from Lake Balaton, as it is a key route for reaching the popular dest

By: hungarytoday.hu

Sep 02 2024
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Two-week Disruption for Those

The Kőröshegy viaduct on the M7 motorway will be fully closed for two weeks starting on September 2 for essential maintenance.

This closure is crucial for motorists traveling to or from Lake Balaton, as it is a key route for reaching the popular destination. To minimize disruption, the maintenance work was scheduled after the summer holidays and main touristic season.

The Kőröshegy viaduct. Photo: Wikipedia

During the closure, drivers coming from Budapest must exit at the Zamárdi felső/Siófok west junction and re-enter at Balatonszárszó, while those coming from the border will need to exit at Balatonszárszó and re-enter at Zamárdi felső/Siófok west.

The maintenance involves replacing three heavily worn spans of the viaduct, as identified in recent inspections.

This precise work requires the bridge to be closed because it involves lifting the structure slightly off its piers. Alongside the span replacement, anti-corrosion coatings on four dilatation elements will also be renewed. Despite the closure, the bridge is reported to be safe and in good condition.

Fact

The Kőröshegy viaduct, Hungary’s longest bridge, spans 1,872 meters on the M7 motorway near Lake Balaton. Opened in 2007, it features 16 piers with the tallest at 79.7 meters and the widest span at 120 meters. The bridge has a 2×2 lane configuration with no emergency lanes and a speed limit of 110 km/h. Rainwater from the bridge is collected in a reservoir for treatment before being released into nearby water bodies.

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