MKIF Zrt., or Hungarian Concession Infrastructure Development Plc., manages Hungary's largest expressway renovation project to date.
Tamás Kertesi, the Deputy CEO for Technical Affairs, provided a detailed explanation of how the motorways came under MKIF's management and the tasks they assume under the contract. A concession agreement was signed with the Hungarian State in May 2022, and on September 1, they took over the management of the 1237 km expressway network. Since then, the new section of M44 has also come under their management.
The characteristic of the concession model is that the investments are not pre-financed by the state, but by the concessionaire, which is a long-term, risky but potentially profitable operation. The Company not only undertook the operation and renovation tasks but also the construction of new roads and expansions. During their task over nearly 35 years, they must face numerous technical challenges, and uniquely, they also carry out the planning tasks. The focus of the renovation programs is to provide a uniform level of road network quality. As part of the three-year plan, more than half a thousand kilometers of pavement will be renovated by August 2025, marking the largest volume expressway renovation in Hungary to date.
Interventions require different planning depending on the condition of the pavement, and in all cases, specialized subcontractors perform the implementation and technical supervision. Future tasks include lane expansions of major motorways like the M1, M7, and M3, as well as the construction of new motorways like the M200. The expansion of the M1 is set to begin in September 2025 and is expected to be completed in four years with a 2*3+ITS lane configuration. MKIF aims to ensure that renovations and expansions provide uninterrupted traffic flow while continuously maintaining traffic safety alongside meeting increased traffic demands.
