On the M8 motorway between Dunavecse and Dunaújváros, on the 1,682-metre-long Pentele Bridge over the Danube, scheduled maintenance work will begin this year, which is essential to ensure that traffic continues to flow safely. 

The last time the bearings of the structure, which was inaugurated in 2007, were replaced was 13 years ago. During regular bridge inspections over the past period, experts have detected defects in the dilatations that slightly disturbed the safety of traffic, but did not endanger it. Abnormalities were found in some of the structural elements that adversely affect the life expectancy of the existing bearings. Therefore, this year, it became necessary to replace several bearings and the dilatation structure of Pentele Bridge, which weighs 10,400 tonnes. The bearings between the bridge piers and the bridge structure must be able to safely support this weight while ensuring the controlled movement of the bridge.

It is important to emphasise that the bridge is currently in a safe and stable condition but, as with any engineering structure, parts of a bridge can wear out. Our bridges are regularly inspected by our bridge engineer colleagues.

On the Pentele Bridge, which is actually a set of five separate steel bridges, a total of 13 bearings must be replaced now. On the floodplain bridge it means 10 bearings, 1.5×1 metre, half-ton each, on the embankment bridge it means 3 bearings, 2×1.5 metre each. These three bearings are not of equal weight: during replacement, our specialized colleagues must move one 2-ton component, one 4-ton component, and one 6-ton component from the pillars, with water safety measures in place. Replacing the bearings is also a major engineering challenge, because these elements, weighing hundreds of kilograms, have to be moved and lifted into place with millimetre precision at a height of 50 metres.

In order to carry out the works, we need to restrict traffic in three phases, as follows:

• Southbound (right lane, towards Dunavecse), half-track closure (1+1 diversion): 18.03.2025 – 31.05.2025
  • During the above period, on three weekends in April and May, we will have to introduce full road closures to carry out the preparatory works for the replacement of the bearings and the dilatation. We will inform travellers in advance about the exact dates of the closures.
• There will also be a full closure on the northern and southern lanes: 01.06.2025 – 30.06.2025
• Northern side (left lane, towards Dunaújváros), half-track closure (1+1 diversion): 01.07.2025 – 31.08.2025

In addition to replacing the bearings, the dilatation structures of the bridge will also be rebuilt. Instead of the old, worn-out comb-type dilation joint, we will install a new lamellar dilatation joint matching the technical parameters of the bridge. Four of them will be installed on each side, i.e. a total of eight (2×4) across the entire cross-section.

In order to install the new dilatation structure, the old one must be removed from its casing. For a riverbed and floodplain bridge this means cutting back the roadway structures and creating a place to accommodate the new dilatation element. This is a precision and time-consuming process that can only be carried out with traffic completely blocked. 

The bridge is therefore expected to be closed across its full width from 1 June to 30 June. A diversion route has been planned towards Dunaföldvár, so it is possible to cross the river between Dunaföldvár and Solt on route 52 during the closure. 

We know that the closure may cause inconvenience, but some of the maintenance tasks can only be carried out safely on a bridge structure without traffic. 

During the traffic restrictions, we are also trying to carry out a number of operational tasks so that we don’t have to block traffic later on again. Therefore, the salt protection coatings on the two bridgeheads will also be renewed.

Thank you for your understanding and patience! We work for you!

MKIF Plc. wishes you a safe journey!

Budapest, 17 March 2025

MKIF Plc.

Communications Directorate

Following several untrue reports in the press in recent weeks, not originating from us, about the planned works on the bridge and its closure, we strongly and repeatedly ask you: 

With regard to the work being carried out on the sections of the network operated by MKIF Plc., only information provided in official letters or announcements issued by MKIF Plc. or published on the company’s social media platforms or websites shall be considered authoritative and reliable. 

You can check the accuracy of all news and articles on our constantly updated, up-to-date pages! Thank you!