Highways in Hungary

Controlled-access highways in Hungary are dual carriageways, grade separated with controlled-access, designed for high speeds. The legislation amendments defined two types of highways: motorways (Hungarian: autópálya) and expressways (Hungarian: autóút).

Highways in Hungary. Dark blue lines depicts sections in use, turquoise lines show sections under construction, while light gray represents proposed highways. Updated to December 2020

The main differences are that motorways have emergency lanes and the maximum allowed speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph), while expressways may be built without them and the speed limit is 110 km/h (68 mph).

According to the Állami Autópályakezelő Zrt. ("State Motorway Management Plc."), the total length of the Hungarian motorway system was 1,646 kilometers in 2020.[1] The construction of the Hungarian motorway system started in 1964 with M7, which finished in 1975 between Budapest and the Lake Balaton. The total length of the system reached 200 km in 1980, 500 km in 1998 and 1000 km in 2007.

The Hungarian motorway network currently comprises 13 motorways, 13 expressways, of which 19 of them are at least partially operational, and 11 (M1, M5, M7, M15, M19, M25, M31, M35, M43, M51 and M70) have been completed as of August 2020.

Highway system

Motorways

The motorways in Hungary, Hungarian: autópálya (abbr. M), are defined as two-lane motorways in each direction, with emergency lane. The speed limit is 130 km/h or 80 mph. Their road signs are white on blue.

Designation Route Length (2020)
Number E-road Planned In service Status
(% in use)
M1 E60 E75 E65 Budapest - Tatabánya - Győr - Mosonmagyaróvár – Border with Austria near Hegyeshalom 171 km 171 km Completed (100%)
M3 E71 E79 E573
E579		 Budapest - Hatvan - Füzesabony - Polgár - Nyíregyháza - Vásárosnamény – Border with Ukraine near Beregdaróc 307 km 280 km Planned (91.2%)
M4 E60 E79 Budapest - Szolnok - Püspökladány - Berettyóújfalu – Border with Romania near Nagykereki 223 km 101 km
UC: 27 km		 Under construction (29%)
M5 E75 Budapest - Kecskemét - Szeged – Border with Serbia near Röszke 173 km 173 km Completed (100%)
M6 E73 Budapest ( M0) - Dunaújváros - Szekszárd – Border with Croatia near Ivándárda 212 km 193 km Planned (91%)
M7 E71 E65 Budapest - Székesfehérvár - Siófok - Nagykanizsa – Border with Croatia near Letenye 233 km 233 km Completed (100%)
M8 E66 Szolnok ( M4) - Kecskemét - Dunaújváros - Veszprém – Border with Austria near Rábafüzes 330 km 35 km
UC: 28,9 km		 Under construction (10.6%)
M30 E71 E79 Via Carpathia: Emőd ( M3) - Miskolc – Border with Slovakia near Tornyosnémeti 95 km 28 km
UC: 56,8 km		 Under construction (29.5%)
M31 E71 Nagytarcsa ( M0) - Gödöllő ( M3) 12 km 12 km Completed (100%)
M35 E79 E573 Görbeháza ( M3) - Debrecen - Berettyóújfalu ( M4) 68,8 km 68,8 km Completed (100%)
M43 E68 Szeged ( M5) - Makó – Border with Romania near Csanádpalota 57,7 km 57,7 km Completed (100%)
M60 Bóly ( M6) - Pécs – Border with Croatia near Barcs 56 km 32 km Planned (53.6%)

M1
M1 between Budapest and Tatabánya

The M1 starts from the western part of Budapest, it connects the Hungarian capital with Győr and northwestern part of Hungary, towards Vienna. The motorway is part of the Pan-European Corridor IV, and European route E60, E65 and E75. Average daily traffic is 75,510 near Budapest and 56,421 vehicles/day near Győr.[2] The construction of the motorway began 1964, it took more than thirty years to reach Hegyeshalom and the Austrian border. Its significance has increased since the change of regime in 1990, and today it is the most important western connection in Hungary.

Main junctions:

M3
M3 in Kisbag rest area

The M3 starts from north-eastern part of Budapest, it connects the Hungarian capital with Nyíregyháza and northeast part of Hungary, towards Mukachevo. The motorway is part of the Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana-Budapest-Lviv-Kyiv line Central-East Europe Corridor V, and European route E71, E79, E573 and E579. This is one of the most important route of the Hungarian motorway and road network, the southwest-north-eastern diagonal main line of traffic forming part of Budapest. Through Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and through Slovakia, creates a highway connection to the countries of north-eastern Europe.

Main junctions:

M5
M5 near Lajosmizse

The M5 starts from Budapest, it connects the Hungarian capital with Szeged and southeast part of Hungary, towards Belgrade. It was the third motorway in Hungary that reached the border. The motorway is part of the Pan-European Corridor X, and European route E75. The motorway was built in the 1980s and reached the Serbian border in March 2006.

Main junctions:

M6
M6 near Százhalombatta

The M6 starts from Budapest (M0-M6 Interchange), it connects the Hungarian capital with Mohács, on the right bank of the Danube in the south, towards Osijek and Sarajevo. The motorway is part of the European route E73. The motorway is planned to reach the Croatian border by 2022.

Main junctions:

M7
M7 in Köröshegy Viaduct

The M7 starts from western part of Budapest, it connects the Hungarian capital with Lake Balaton and southwestern part of Hungary, towards Zagreb. The motorway is part of the Pan-European Corridor V, and European route E71. Average daily traffic is 62,779 near Budapest and 49,273 vehicles/day near Székesfehérvár.[2] The motorway was built in the 1960s and reached the Croatian border in October 2008.

Main junctions:

  • Pentele Bridge in M8
  • M15 near Rajka
  • Sajó Bridge in M30
  • M35 near Derecske
  • M43 near Szeged-Sándorfalva
  • M60 near Kozármisleny

Expressways

The expressways in Hungary, Hungarian: autóút (abbr. M as well) are defined as dual carriageways with lower standards than that of a motorway, but with the same restrictions. The speed limit is 110 km/h or 70 mph. Their road signs are white on blue.

Number Route Length (2020)
Planned In service Status
M0 Budapest bypass ~ 108 km 77 km Planned (71,3%)
M2 Budapest ( M0) - Vác – Border with Slovakia near Parassapuszta 70 km 32 km Planned (45,7%)
M9 Szombathely ( M86) - Zalaegerszeg - Nagykanizsa - Kaposvár - Szekszárd - Szeged ( M5) ~ 300 km 21 km Planned (7%)
M10 Budapest - Pilisvörösvár – Border with Slovakia near Esztergom 34 km 0 km Planned (0%)
M15 Mosonmagyaróvár ( M1) – Border with Slovakia near Rajka 15 km 15 km Completed (100%)
M19 Győr ( M1) - Győr (half motorway) 10 km 10 km Completed (100%)
M25 Füzesabony ( M3) - Eger 19 km 19 km Completed (100%)
M34 Vásárosnamény ( M3) – Border with Ukraine near Záhony 39 km 0 km Planned (0%)
M44 Kecskemét ( M8) - Békéscsaba – Border with Romania near Gyula 111 km 80 km
UC: 14 km		 Under construction (72%)
M51 Part of old ring of Budapest 9 km 9 km Completed (100%)
M70 Letenye ( M7) – Border with Slovenia near Tornyiszentmiklós 21 km 21 km Completed (100%)
M76 Balatonszentgyörgy ( M7) – Zalaegerszeg ( M9) 32,6 km 5 km
UC: 3 km		 Under construction (15%)
M85 Győr (M1) - Csorna – Border with Austria near Sopron 95 km 83 km
UC: 6.5 km		 Under construction (87%)
M86 Szombathely - Csorna - Mosonmagyaróvár ( M1) 115 km 71 km Planned (61,7%)
M87 Szombathely ( M86) – Border with Austria near Kőszeg 20 km 0 km Planned (0%)
  • Eastern section of M0
  • M2 near Vác
  • The end of M9 near Dusnok
  • Korongi Bridge in M70
  • M85-M86 near Csorna
  • M86 near Szombathely
  • R21 near Zagyvaszántó.

Fast roads

The fast roads in Hungary, Hungarian: gyorsút (abbr. R) are defined as dual carriageways with lower standards than that of an expressway, but the level intersection (e.g., traffic light node, roundabout) is permissible. The speed limit is also 110 km/h or 70 mph. (Fast road category was ceased in 2018, these roads will become main roads.)

Number Route Length
R11 M1 - Esztergom ?  km
Existing: 0 km
R49 M3 - Mátészalka - Csenger → (ROU border) 45 km
Existing: 0 km
R67 M7 - Kaposvár 46 km
Existing: 33 km
R83 Győr (M1) - Pápa 36 km
Existing: 0 km
Main road 5 near Kecskemét.
2x2 traffic lanes main roads

Toll requirements
Hungarian highway network. Legend of sections:
  completed
  under construction or planned

The e-vignette user charge system applies to motorcycles, passenger cars and their trailers, as well as cargo vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight of 3.5 tonnes, campers and buses, and their trailers. These vehicles are authorized to use the Hungarian toll speedway network's roads exclusively with pre-purchased –purchased prior to entering a toll speedway section– road use authorization, i.e. e-vignettes. The amount of toll charges depends on the category of the vehicle and the type of the e-vignette. The category of the motor vehicles must be determined according to the official entry that appears in the vehicle registration certificate, based on the maximum permissible gross weight of the motor vehicle and the number of persons it is allowed to transport.[3]

Hungarian system has 2 main type in terms of salary.

1, time-based fee vignettes (E-matrica) with a validity of either 10 days (2975 HUF), 1 month (4780 HUF) or 1 year (42980 HUF). The following motorway sections are toll-free for cars up to 3.5 t:[4]

  • the following sections of the M0 expressway: - 63 km
    • the section between Main Road 1 (exit -1) and the M5 motorway (exit 32),
    • the section between M4 expressway (exit 41) and M3 motorway (exit 68),
    • Megyeri Bridge (the section between Main Road 11 and Main Road 2), (exit 74-77).
  • the M31 motorway - 12 km
  • the section of M4 expressway (sign of Main Road 4) between the road leading from Vecsés to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport (section between km section 19+550 and km section 20+518)
  • the M8 motorway
  • the Pécs south-west loop section of the M60 motorway between roads no. 58 (exit 30) and 5826 (exit 32) - 2 km
2, regional vignettes

History

Development of the overall length (at the end of):

Year1964197019751980198519901996200220062010201420162017 201820192020
Length in km7851362133023614406389671,2901,3821,4811,489 1,5241,6001,740
Year Length (km) Year Length (km) Year Length (km)
19647 2003667 20131,361
197085 2004717 20141,370
1975136 2005803 20151,447
1980213 2006967 20161,481
1985302 20071,037 20171,490
1990361 20081,113 20181,524
1996440 20091,118 20191,600
2001571 20101,290 20201,740
2002638 20111,321
IEA-PVPS,[5]

Hungarian highways network since 1964

500
1,000
1,500
2,000
1964
1975
1985
1996
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018

[6]

Opening of new motorways

Construction of new motorways in recent years has been hampered due to corruption scandals and austerity measures as well as owing to new European rules under which old EIA assessments lapsed. In the coming years, the highway network will be expanded first of all near Budapest and border region of Hungary. Construction of non-radial roads continues to be slow.

Highway From To Length Construction started Due to open Remarks
Nagykőrös Tiszakürt 31.0 km 07/2018 08/2021[7] 2nd carriageway
Kondoros Békéscsaba 17.6 km 03/2018 1st Q. 2021[8] 2nd carriageway
Miskolc Tornyosnémeti 56.75 km 03/2018 3rd Q. 2021[9]
Csorna Fertőrákos 57,45 km 03/2018 4th Q. 2020[10] 2nd carriageway
Fenékpuszta M7 motorway 8,6 km 02/2018 2nd Q. 2020[11] 2nd carriageway
Letenye border of Slovenia 13.7 km 11/2017 12/2019[12] second lane of motorway
Körmend border of Austria 29 km 12/2017 2/2021[13] single carriageway

See also

References
    1. Állami Autópályakezelő Zrt. (ÁAK) (2013). "Az ÁAK által kezelt úthálózat részletes adatai (2013)". Nemzetiutdij.hu. Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
    2. "Az autópálya-hálózat forgalmi menedzsment tervének elõkészítõ vizsgálatai – forgalmi elemzések" (PDF) (in Hungarian). ktenet.hu.
    3. "National Toll Payment Services PLC". toll-charge.hu.
    4. "National Toll Payment Services PLC". toll-charge.hu.
    5. http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2017.pdf
    6. This list contains the limited-access roads (expressways) in Hungary with (at least) four traffic lanes and median.
    7. "Békéscsaba megközelítése, M44 Nagykőrös – Tiszakürt". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
    8. "Megkezdődtek a munkálatok az M44 Kondoros-Békéscsaba közötti szakaszán". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
    9. "ELKEZDŐDIK AZ M30 AUTÓPÁLYA MISKOLC – TORNYOSNÉMETI KÖZÖTTI SZAKASZÁNAK ÉPÍTÉSE". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
    10. "Letették az M85 autóút Csorna II. – Sopron-kelet – Fertőrákos csomópont közötti szakasz alapkövét/". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
    11. "Letették az M76 gyorsforgalmi út Zalaegerszeg – M7 autópálya közötti szakaszának alapkövét". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
    12. "Megvalósul az M70 autóút Letenye-Tornyiszentmiklós országhatár közötti szakasz 2×2 sávossá bővítése". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
    13. "M8 autóút Körmend – Rábafüzes országhatár szakasz 2×1 sávos előkészítése és építése". Nif.hu. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
    General
    • Magyarország autóatlasz (Road atlas of Hungary), Dimap-Szarvas, Budapest, 2004
    • Magyarország autóatlasz (Road atlas of Hungary), Dimap-Szarvas, Budapest, 2013
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