After more than a decade of delays, renovation work has begun on Budapest’s K Bridge, which provides access to Óbuda Island and the popular Sziget Festival. The overhaul will continue in several phases until the end of 2027, with motor vehicles barred from crossing during the first stage.
Mayor Karácsony announces well-known bridge’s renovation
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced the start of the project, saying the first phase would run until June 2027. During this period, workers will renovate the roadway and the southern pedestrian pavement. Pedestrians will still be able to cross using the northern pavement, while cyclists must dismount and push their bicycles for safety reasons.
The restrictions will be temporarily lifted for two major events on Hajógyári Island. Work will pause during the Generali Gyerek Sziget children’s festival in June 2027 and the main Sziget Festival in August, allowing visitors and motorists to use the bridge without the construction-related restrictions. The final phase is scheduled to take place between September and December 2027. This stage will focus on renovating the northern pavement and protecting the bridge structure against corrosion.
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A long-delayed Budapest project
The renovation has been on the city’s agenda for years. Construction plans were first completed in 2014 and reviewed in 2020, but the project was repeatedly postponed, primarily because of a lack of funding. The original construction permit also expired, requiring the plans to be updated as the bridge’s condition made repairs increasingly urgent.
The project eventually received the green light as part of a political agreement linked to the approval of Budapest’s 2026 budget. The Podmaniczky Movement made the reconstruction of K Bridge one of the transport investments it wanted included in the agreement in return for supporting the budget. The city subsequently allocated funding, completed the public procurement process and signed a construction contract with Strabag.
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Only a smaller part of Budapest’s investments
Karácsony described the bridge works as the beginning of a wider wave of investment across the capital. He said an agreement with the national government and the use of European Union funding would help launch further developments in Budapest in the coming period. The mayor also asked residents to be patient as construction projects get under way across the city in the coming years.
For Sziget Festival, one of Hungary’s best-known summer music events, the planned pauses mean the bridge will remain accessible during the main festival period in August 2027. However, outside the designated breaks, pedestrians and cyclists will need to follow the temporary arrangements while the first phase is under way.
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