Good News for Drivers and Public Transport Users: Flórián Square’s Southern Bridge Reopens
After eight months of intensive reconstruction, Budapest’s Flórián Square southern flyover bridge reopens to traffic on Saturday, November 15th at 4 PM, marking a significant milestone in one of the city’s most complex infrastructure projects. This development brings welcome relief to drivers and public transport users who have navigated detours and alternative routes since the bridge closed on March 1st, 2025.
The reopening represents more than just restored connectivity—it demonstrates Budapest’s commitment to maintaining and modernizing its aging infrastructure while minimizing disruption to daily life. For tourists visiting Budapest, understanding these traffic changes helps navigate the city more effectively, especially when traveling between downtown Budapest and northern destinations like Szentendre or exploring the Buda side of the capital.
What the Southern Bridge Reopening Means for Traffic Flow
Starting Saturday afternoon, traffic can proceed toward Pest direction across the renovated southern bridge, initially in one lane that widens to two lanes as vehicles progress. The bridge received its official temporary traffic permit from authorities, allowing this phased reopening that balances safety with the urgent need to restore normal traffic patterns.
Bus routes arriving from Szentendre Road—including routes 34, 106, 118, and 134 during daytime, plus night routes 901 and 918—will once again use the renovated flyover starting Saturday afternoon. This change ensures faster journey times for passengers and restores service to the Szentlélek Square stop at the bridge’s approach, providing an important transfer point that disappeared during construction. The shopping center-adjacent Flórián Square stop will no longer serve these routes, so passengers should adjust their boarding points accordingly.
This configuration represents careful planning by BKK, Budapest’s Transport Center, which coordinated with construction teams to balance ongoing work with the city’s transportation needs. The restoration showcases modern engineering addressing structural issues discovered during demolition—when workers removed the pavement, they uncovered unexpected damage to the reinforced concrete deck and structural concrete that required extensive additional intervention beyond original plans.
Important Changes Before the Northern Bridge Closure
Before celebrating the southern bridge’s return, drivers need to understand crucial changes taking effect Friday evening, November 14th. The construction team begins establishing the temporary traffic pattern for the renovation’s second phase—the northern bridge reconstruction. Starting Friday at 8 PM, access to the northern bridge from Szentendre direction toward Pest will close completely. This means travelers from Buda can only reach Árpád Bridge via the Pacsirtamező Street turnaround until Saturday afternoon.
The northern bridge will remain open for one lane of traffic traveling from Árpád Bridge toward Szentendre, but this represents a significant capacity reduction. Drivers should expect this arrangement to continue through the transitional period until the northern bridge’s complete closure and renovation begins on the evening of November 21st at 8 PM.
During this transitional week, the traffic pattern at Flórián Square operates under these conditions: vehicles approaching from Szentendre toward Pest can access the renovated southern bridge via one lane that expands to two lanes, with the exit ramp to Árpád Prince Road remaining open. Traffic arriving from Árpád Bridge can proceed toward Szentendre on one lane via the northern bridge, turn right onto Tavasz Street in one lane with a gentle curve, or continue straight toward Vörösvári Road in two lanes.
Drivers arriving from Vörösvári Road still cannot turn left, but turning right allows access to Szentendre Road via the Pacsirtamező Street turnaround. From Szentendre direction at ground level beside the renovated southern flyover, traffic can proceed straight in one lane toward the Pacsirtamező Street turnaround, while the outer lane remains designated as a bus lane.
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Gradual Transformation of the Junction Below the Bridge
The transition period brings gradual improvements to the junction beneath the bridge that benefit all road users. Lane narrowings disappear and Tavasz Street widens, creating smoother traffic flow. Toward Szentendre at ground level, drivers can turn right using two lanes, and vehicles can continue straight toward Vörösvári Road also in two lanes. Traffic arriving from Árpád Bridge toward Pacsirtamező Street can proceed in three lanes, significantly improving capacity compared to the cramped conditions during the first construction phase.
These modifications represent careful traffic engineering that prioritizes safety while maximizing capacity through the construction zone. The changes reflect lessons learned during the southern bridge closure, when traffic engineers observed bottlenecks and adjusted plans for the second phase accordingly.
Public Transport Remains the Smart Choice
BKK continues requesting that travelers use public transport whenever possible, reducing traffic burden in the affected area. The organization particularly advises drivers approaching from Pest to avoid Árpád Bridge if possible, using alternative bridges to reach their destinations. The capacity of Árpád Bridge and the Flórián Square junction toward Buda and North Buda will be significantly smaller than during the renovation’s first phase, making congestion likely during peak hours.
For tourists exploring Budapest, this advice proves especially valuable. The city’s extensive public transport network—including metro lines, trams, and buses—provides efficient alternatives to driving, particularly when traveling between major attractions. The renovated southern bridge now carries buses that offer faster connections, and the restored Szentlélek Square stop creates important transfer opportunities for passengers switching between routes.
Bus lanes continue supporting public transport during the northern bridge renovation. A new bus lane will be established on Árpád Bridge from Népfürdő Street to Szentlélek Square stop, facilitating the movement of routes 34, 106, and 226 toward Buda, route 26 to Margaret Island, and suburban buses. This dedicated infrastructure demonstrates Budapest’s commitment to prioritizing public transport even during major construction projects.
BKK requests that all road users watch for buses departing from Szentlélek Square stop, buses accessing the southern bridge approach, and buses merging from Tavasz Street direction. Giving priority to these buses helps maintain schedule reliability and serves the broader traveling public.
Comprehensive Information for Navigating the Changes
BKK maintains comprehensive information about construction progress and related traffic changes on the continuously updated florianter.hu website and across BKK Info platforms. These resources provide real-time updates in multiple languages, helping both locals and tourists stay informed about the best routes and any unexpected developments.
The original closure revealed more extensive damage than anticipated—when construction crews removed the pavement during demolition and milling work, they discovered serious defects in the reinforced concrete deck and structural concrete that weren’t visible beforehand. These findings necessitated significant additional work and technical interventions substantially different from original plans, explaining the extended timeline and changed phasing of the Flórián Square flyover renovation.
For visitors to Budapest, this infrastructure project illustrates the city’s ongoing modernization efforts. While construction inevitably creates inconvenience, the result will be safer, more durable bridges serving this crucial junction for decades to come. The Flórián Square area connects central Budapest with northern destinations including the charming riverside town of Szentendre, the scenic Danube Bend region, and residential neighborhoods in North Buda.
BKK thanks all Budapest travelers for their patience and understanding during recent months, along with the dedicated work of professionals involved in construction and organization. The southern bridge’s reopening represents a major achievement, even as attention shifts to completing the northern bridge renovation. By late November when both phases conclude, this important junction will function more efficiently than before, supporting Budapest’s transportation needs well into the future.