Buza Péter: Bridges of the Danube - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1999)
vicinity that necessitated a design that, by covering much of the existing, rather unsightly, bridge made it appear lighter rather than add to its cumbersome solidity. That is the reason why the suspending structure is of such an unusually low build and why the slim candelabra were placed in a controlling position to draw a curtain, as it were, around the view. Tibor Sigray, the senior engineer of the company ÜVATERV, designed a peculiar structure, a beam bridge supported by oblique suspension rods. This unique technology was perhaps the only one to meet aesthetic as well as economic requirements. The resulting construction is a kind of mock-cable-bridge where the cables are replaced with suspension rods which are not anchored in the traditional way on either end. The conspicuous rods appear to compete with the bulky steel body of the railway bridge in the background thus creating a graceful overall impression. An additional advantage is that the practically insoluble problem of preventing corrosion on cable bridges is avoided. The oblique rods are simple structures requiring but easy maintenance. Besides the airiness of the visual effect created by its structure, the Lágymányos Bridge in fact weighs less than any other bridge spanning the Danube in Budapest. As for lighting, its soul is a special system of plastic mirrors, which spreads the rays from the lights themselves evenly to prevent the effect of dazzling. The six-bay bridge rests on three piers in the riverbed and two additional ones on the banks. The bridge floor accommodates a dual carriageway, panels carrying the rails of the No. 1 rapid tramway line, and two footways, the one to the north featuring a protected bicycle path as well, the first of its kind on any Budapest bridge across the Danube. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1996 together with a network of related roads on both the Pest and Buda sides. (Elements of this roadway complex are still under construction in an effort to adjust the 52
