The reconstruction of the Southern Railway Danube Bridge in Budapest was carried out between 2019-2022. The superstructures had to be replaced, leaving two, nearly 400 m long truss steel structures to decay. However, the dismantled bridge elements were still suitable for reuse as footbridges.
Our multidisciplinary design team designated a 74.5-meter section for reuse, and selected a suitable location with a high demand for connectivity. A new direct pedestrian connection over the Óbuda Danube branch would greatly improve the viability of residential areas on the Buda side, enable access to the Danube over the H5 suburban railway and provide opportunities for broader recreational use of the natural woodlands of Óbudai-Island.
The structure's robust outer truss shell serves as an intermediary element, providing a transition from the green belt, interspersed with abandoned industrial areas, to the densely developed urban residential zones. The design of the 111 m long structure, combined with a lightweight two-story steel deck serves as a contemporary, forward-looking example of the reuse of aging structures while also providing solutions to a pressing issue from an urban perspective.
