It is now exactly one month ago that the historic Chain Bridge was closed off from the public, the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) reports. Since then, renovations have been underway to fix up the bridge’s steel foundation, protect it from corrosion, replace the tracks, and revitalize its historical and cultural character.
Since its closure on June 16, much of the decorations and lighting systems which made the bridge previously recognizable have been stripped away, and the more visible element of removing the entire concrete layer on top of the foundation has been going on for the past week. Anett Puskár, head of communications for A-Híd Ltd., the company responsible for executing the renovation, explained the process on-sight.
The bridge’s road plates are sliced up and taken away. Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
The aged road plates are “sliced” from the center of the bridge in two directions and each piece, weighing around two to three and a half tons, is individually lifted and transported away.
Workers removing one of the sliced up road plates from the Chain Bridge. Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
For now, in place of the lifted slabs are giant holes revealing the steel foundations of the bridge, which the workers of A-Híd Ltd. will analyze to determine the kind of repair that is required on the structure.
The bridge looks completely different without its upper layer. Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
There are clear instructions, plans, and rules for the reconstruction, Puskár explains, saying that “this is how this bridge needs to be dismantled, and this is how it can most effectively be rebuilt.”
Workers on the under-renovation Chain Bridge, with the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in the background. Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
The many photos of the project show that the monumental bridge did pick up quite a bit of rust over the years, bringing much more curiosity around its new and improved version, as well as the process in getting there.
Workers on the Chain Bridge. Photo: Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
Photos and featured photo by Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI
