Painting the Chain Bridge is no simple matter. First the surfaces, all 23,000 square metres of them, need to be blast-cleaned, then primer must be added before an intermediate stage, then, finally the top coat, which now gives the bridge a classy blueish-grey finish.
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This colour has been chosen to make it resemble the old one as closely as possible. Workers carried out the job on suspended scaffolding, using a special, flexible coating system for the chains, hinges and links. This should provide corrosion protection in years to come.
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The demolition of the reinforced concrete structure of the Buda underpass has also begun. A more spacious, safer passageway will be opened. Instead of the previous three-metre-wide semi-circular bicycle tunnel, a four-metre-wide underpass with vertical walls will be built, making it possible to lay down a pavement 1.75 metres wide, in addition to the two-way bike lane.
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The Chain Bridge will be completely renovated by 2023. Related news in Hungarian can be regularly followed here.