The public procurement procedure for renewal has officially ended. The decision aimed to renew the section of Budapest’s lower quay between Kossuth Square and Margaret Bridge. After that, the contract may be concluded no earlier than 26 May. As a first step, the pedestrian-friendly renewal of the quay will be implemented, the Mayor’s Office said.
As a continuation of the promenade already built on the Carl Lutz embankment, other sections of the Danube bank would be renewed. “Plans arrived at the office last year but did not meet the expectations of the new city management, so we decided to redesign the project. Simultaneously with the renovation of the existing road, we will create a 4-5 metre wide pedestrian walkway,” wrote the city administration.
The goal is to create a unified, close-to-human, recreational location.
They are trying to achieve this goal by, among other things, reducing car traffic and improving green surfaces. The planners of the investment want to create a more liveable bank of the Danube that will serve the interests of pedestrians. The pedestrian walkway design will be in line with the image known in the section in front of the Parliament. So there will be granite cobblestone paving, and 35 soil-related trees will be installed, writes portfolio.hu.
The promenade must be provided space. For this purpose, the retaining wall of the Markó street exit must also be rebuilt. To do this, the protection regulations of the monument must also be taken into account. The promenade will be about 5-6 metres wide in the vicinity of the Margaret Bridge, which will narrow to 4 metres in the area of the Markó Street, a row of alleys is formed in the centre line of the promenade.
The speed of the vehicles will be reduced to 30 kilometres per hour.
The 2×1 traffic lane will remain on the Antall József quay, on the section between Kossuth Lajos square and Jászai Mari square. Pedestrian crossings in the affected areas shall be adequately lit. In addition, a stormwater drainage system will be built, and the gas pipelines will be replaced.
“Budapest is a city with a unique endowment, but in many ways, we cannot make sufficient use of it,” pointed out the Mayor’s Office. The Danube bank is one of the best examples of this. They are trying to change this with a greener, more liveable part of the city, which, in addition to the interests of drivers, also takes into account the interests of pedestrians and cyclist. The concept works, as demonstrated by several European cities.