M1 and M7 motorway expansion to start next year

MKIF Zrt., the Hungarian Concessionary Infrastructure Development Ltd., is managing Hungary's largest high-speed road reconstruction project to date.

Tamás Kertesi, Deputy Chief Technical Officer, explained in detail how the motorways came to be managed by MKIF and what tasks they are performing under the contract.The concession contract was signed with the Hungarian State in May 2022 and the 1,237 km of motorway network was taken over on 1 September. Since then they have also taken over the management of the new section of the M44.

The concession model is characterised by the fact that the investments are not pre-financed by the state, but by the concessionaire, which is a long-term, risky but potentially profitable operation. The Company has taken on not only the operation and rehabilitation tasks, but also the construction of new roads and extensions. They face a number of technical challenges over the course of their nearly 35-year assignment and, almost uniquely, they are also responsible for the design. At the heart of the renovation programmes is the need to ensure a consistent level of quality in the road network. Over half a thousand kilometres of pavement will be resurfaced by August 2025 as part of the three-year plan, making it the largest ever high-speed road resurfacing project in Hungary.

The interventions will require different designs depending on the condition of the pavement, and in all cases will be carried out by specialist subcontractors and technical supervision. Future tasks include lane widening on major motorways such as the M1, M7 and M3, and the construction of new motorways such as the M200. The M1 widening will start in September 2025 and is expected to be completed in four years with a 2*3+ITS lane configuration. MKIF's aim is to ensure that the upgrades and expansions provide uninterrupted traffic flow and maintain traffic safety while meeting increased traffic demands.