Zielinski híd

"The Zielinski Bridge (formerly known as the Millennium Bridge) is an important metal-framed bridge located in Budapest's City Park, connecting the Kós Károly Promenade with Heroes' Square over the City Park Lake. The bridge was constructed in time for Hungary's 1896 millennium celebrations, marking 1,000 years since the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin. The design competition for the bridge was initiated by Ernő Dániel, Hungary's Minister of Trade, with the goal of creating an 82-meter-long bridge with a 10 + 2×3-meter-wide roadway. The bridge's design was ultimately selected from several submissions, and Szilárd Zielinski's iron-framed design was chosen for implementation. Zielinski oversaw the bridge’s construction, which was carried out by the Ganz Danubius factory. The foundations were made of concrete, with the pillars adorned in carved limestone. The roadway was originally paved with larch blocks, while the sidewalks were covered in asphalt. The cost of the bridge's construction was 169,000 forints, slightly exceeding the initial budget due to the ornate railings and lighting fixtures added to the design. The bridge has undergone several renovations over the years, including a major reconstruction in 1929 when the road and sidewalk were replaced with a reinforced concrete track. The bridge suffered no damage during World War II, though some lamps were replaced with those from the destroyed Chain Bridge. In the latter half of the 20th century, the bridge continued to require maintenance, including multiple painting projects (1952, 1969) and railing repairs (1976). A more significant renovation took place in 1981 to address corrosion and increased traffic. During this time, the bridge’s metal structure was reinforced, and the roadway was insulated. In 1994, the bridge was officially renamed the Zielinski Bridge to honor Szilárd Zielinski, the bridge's original designer, on the 70th anniversary of his death. Most recently, in 2005, the bridge underwent another renovation lasting 3.5 months. This renovation focused on replacing the insulation and expansion joints, as well as repairing the pillars and parapets. The bridge currently has a weight limit of 3.5 tons for freight traffic, ensuring that it remains a reliable and historic structure for pedestrians and light traffic alike."