Buza Péter: Bridges of the Danube - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1999)

have a pier, will it?” The gentlemen seeking sup­port nodded and although there were plans sub­mitted with other solutions, they did not stand a chance to win a prize. The first prize for the replacement bridge was awarded to a cable bridge designed by German engineers but this design was not carried out because, according to the plan, the parts had to be manufactured in Hungary. At that time, however, the Hungarian cable industry was not able to pro­duce all the products needed. Therefore a Hun­garian team of engineers led by Aurél Czekelius reworked the plans, creating a chain bridge based on the prize-winning plan. The construction pro­ceeded with great difficulties but was finally suc­cessfully completed. Building the abutments was a strenuous opera­tion. On the Pest bank, at the preparation of the foundation, the cutting edges of the caisson encountered the nearly three-metre thick walls of the Roman fortification. On the Buda side, the hot water of the thermal springs inundating the pit also caused serious problems. The basement had to be The construction of the new Elizabeth Bridge 41

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