Hungary may bid farewell to highway investments – a list of canceled projects

Hungary's ambitious highway development plans are facing a potential halt, with several key projects, including the M100, M4, M44, and M47, now in jeopardy. New transport official Vitézy has publicly opposed the M100 project, suggesting that the estimated 500 billion forints (approximately $1.3 billion USD) earmarked for its construction would be better allocated to modernizing the country's underperforming railway system.

The M4 highway project, which has seen 150 km completed since 2010, is now projected to face years of further delays. While a 34 km section between Törökszentmiklós and Kisújszállás opened in December, the continuation to Püspökladány is still in the planning phase, with completion not expected before 2032. This timeline represents a significant pushback from previous estimates.

Similarly, the M44 highway, intended to connect Békéscsaba to the Romanian border, is also experiencing protracted development. Although over 125 km have been completed since 2016 at a cost of approximately 511 billion forints, the final section to the border is not expected to be completed until after 2030, with planning for this 43.2 km stretch set to conclude by 2028. The M44-M5 junction is slated for completion next year at a cost of 50 billion forints.

The future of the M47 highway, designed to upgrade the main road between Berettyóújfalu and Békéscsaba into a dual-carriageway, also remains uncertain. While the initial construction plans for the Békéscsaba–Szeghalom section are complete, environmental studies and permitting processes are ongoing for other parts. This project was a favored initiative of former minister Lázár János.

Even the Tisza Party's platform includes highway projects, though its list is modest, naming only five specific developments. The potential shelving of these major infrastructure projects signals a significant shift in transportation policy, prioritizing rail over new road construction.