A project is building almost 30 km of express road in the booming area between the towns of Kormend and the Rábafüzes in Hungary’s West Transdanubia, near the Austrian border. The new M8 follows a similar route to main road 8 in Hungary, but avoids several settlements on the existing road. Faster connections with Austria, especially the city of Graz, and with other parts of Hungary, will strengthen investment and development in the region. Increased road capacity will reduce congestion-related transport costs and improve local quality of life.
- 04 July 2019
The project is constructing one lane each way on this new road, with the option for the Hungarian government to widen it to two lanes later on. Motorists will be able to drive at a maximum speed of 110 km/h on the 28.9 km-long road, continuing into Austria on the S7 road, which is planned for future construction.
This improved link with Europe’s transport network will increase the region’s competitiveness, attracting investors and jobs for wider social, economic and regional cohesion. In addition, as through-traffic moves on to the M8, inhabitants will gain a healthier, quieter environment and better local traffic flow.
Growth story
In recent years, the historic West Hungarian region has experienced an economic revival. Its location between major cities in Hungary and Austria is encouraging businesses to set up logistics centres for north-south and east-west traffic. It has good rail links that support combined rail-road transport and is part of the West Transdanubia Regional Transport Alliance.
A key emerging sector is the automotive industry. A test track and a logistics centre are at nearby Zalaegerszeg, and a 6 000-m2 automotive parts factory is in Szentgotthárd – Hungary’s westernmost town – for Spanish manufacturer AMES. Kormend Industrial Park adds 730 000 m2 of business and industry facilities, targeted at local SMEs. Tourism is a further strength, with visitors attracted by forested, hilly countryside, well-preserved picturesque buildings, the Őrség national park, and the surroundings of the Rába River.
Improved links
Much of the traffic generated in Hungary by this boom has been based around towns with a central role in the region, such as Szentgotthárd and Körmend. Main road 8 is an important connection between these settlements and an important route to and from other economic centres in Europe. The planned M8 express road will link these towns more efficiently and with better reach into the Trans-European core transport network of express roads.
Businesses, investors and jobseekers will be able to use this road to reach factories, warehouses and offices more easily to build on the area’s success. Regional institutions, education and services will be strengthened as better local connections create opportunities for greater social cohesion across the region. The road will help to mitigate some of the costs of success as it removes traffic noise and pollution from residential and business areas and keeps urban roads clear for more cost-efficient transport and deliveries.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Preparation & construction of M8 expressway Körmend – Rábafüzes border, 2x1 lanes” is EUR 239 459 270, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 203 540 380 through the “Integrated Transport” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Transport and energy networks”.