Breaking, PHOTOS: Budapest’s Chain Bridge opened to public with picnic!

Budapest’s landmark, the Chain Bridge was reopened to the public on Friday, after a 2.5-year renovation project.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said the renovation had been completed “in a timely manner and not exceeding the budget” of HUF 26.7 billion (EUR 68 million). “The Chain Bridge is a miracle to be admired by all Budapest residents and the city’s visitors,” the mayor said before symbolically handing over a spanner used in the operations to János Fazekas, the facility’s manager, MTI wrote.

24.hu wrote that passengers may use the renovated bridge with public transport, taxi, bicycle, motorcycle and moped. Furthermore, pedestrians will be able to commute between Buda and Pest on Hungary’s first brick bridge. Karácsony said it was a symbol of “unity and belonging together”. He added that the Chain Bridge started the unification of the city and the birth of the nation’s capital. The original deadline for the revamp was 17 November, the 150th anniversary of Budapest’s birth. But they managed to complete the project months before the end date.