Work vehicles will first appear on the road in 2025, but the two lanes will be maintained throughout the development.Continue reading
On Saturday, coinciding with the Day of Loyalty, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán inaugurated the new section of the M85 motorway linking the Fertőrákos junction to the Austrian border near Sopron (northwestern Hungary). The highlight of the 4.12-kilometer stretch is a 780-meter twin tunnel, marking a historic milestone in the region’s connectivity.
At the ceremony, Sopron’s Mayor Ciprián Farkas described the project as a long-awaited dream fulfilled. “This road is more than just stone, concrete, and asphalt—it reconnects Sopron to the nation’s bloodstream,” he remarked. The motorway, stretching 93 kilometers in total, enhances transport safety, alleviates traffic in Sopron’s city center, and opens the region to unprecedented opportunities.
The motorway’s completion signals relief for Sopron residents, as freight traffic is redirected away from the city via a new ring road. Fidesz MP Attila Barcza emphasized the significance of the project: “This is not just a road; it is a triumph of human skill and will. The M85 and the tunnel will usher in economic, tourism, and community growth, restoring Sopron’s rightful place in the nation.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán highlighted Sopron’s historical and geopolitical significance. Recalling the 1921 referendum where Sopron chose to remain part of Hungary, he stated:
Sopron can only thrive when connected to the world around it. This motorway and tunnel embody that vision.”
Prime Minister Orbán also pointed out Hungary’s broader infrastructure achievements. Since 2010, 870 kilometers of new motorways have been built, with 10 now reaching the national border, compared to just three in 2010. The M85’s new section links the Hungarian motorway network directly to Austria, strengthening cross-border ties and positioning Sopron as a gateway between the Carpathian Basin and the Alps.
The M85 project, completed by the Hungarian SDD consortium, represents a technical triumph. Construction of the tunnel began in October 2020, and lasted 1,360 days.
The state-of-the-art tunnel includes advanced safety features such as cameras, emergency alarms, LED traffic control signs, ventilation systems, and fire detection equipment.
During trial operations, more than 120 traffic scenarios were tested to ensure optimal safety. The HUF 67.2 billion (EUR 164 million) project, funded entirely by the Hungarian government, also involved upgrading a 3.6-kilometer bypass and expanding the nearby Route 84 to two lanes in each direction up to the border.
Attila Barcza and Ágnes Molnár, members of the Fidesz Parliament, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Ciprián Farkas, Mayor of Sopron (L-R). Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán
Orbán framed the motorway’s completion as part of a larger vision for Hungary’s development. He pledged further investment in road infrastructure, aiming to increase the number of cross-border motorways to 19 within the next decade. He also highlighted upcoming economic milestones, including the launch of significant industrial projects in 2025, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Sándor Demján Program.
Reflecting on Hungary’s past challenges, Orbán noted: “We have always triumphed when we connected ourselves to the world rather than isolating. The M85 stands as proof that we are not only catching up but taking bold steps forward.”
Via MTI; Featured image via MTI/Máthé Zoltán