NATO summit turns Budapest into traffic battlefield

Access to downtown Budapest will be severely limited during the two-day NATO summit on October 9 and 10, writes hirsarok.hu, based on an MTI report. Some areas will not be accessible on foot, either, while local residents have been asked to keep their windows closed. Traffic restrictions will also apply on the road leading to Ferihegy Airport.

Most delegations arrive for the summit Thursday morning. During the two-day event, drivers are advised to avoid downtown Budapest, especially Kossuth tér and Bessenyei utca (District XIII) between Hegedűs Gyula utca and Pannónia utca. Parking will not be permitted on Bessenyei utca until midnight on Sunday.

Police announced that the environs of the Zoo, Hősök tere and the Műjégpálya ice rink will be closed on Thursday, in addition to the Pest lower embankment between the Parliament and Közraktár utca.

Road sections will be closed along the route of the delegations, mainly on the road leading to Ferihegy Airport, Üllői út, Erzsébet körút, József körút, Andrássy út and Roosevelt tér.

Cars parked on closed areas will be towed. The vehicles will be given back free of charge after calling 267-4673.

The area between Vigadó tér and Március 15. tér will be closed to pedestrians, but restaurants between Eötvös tér and Vigadó tér will remain accessible. Police said pedestrians will be able to access areas closed to car traffic through check points.

Budapest Airport asked flight passengers to use public transportation to access Ferihegy and allow more time for travel. Terminal 1 can be accessed by trains from Nyugati Railway Station, both Terminals 1 and 2 by Bus 200 and the Airport mini bus. Those wishing to drive to the airport are advised to use the M0 motorway. Most delegations will arrive at Terminal 2, so police will close the departure level Thursday morning. Passengers can access the departure level through the arrival area.

Meanwhile, the Government Guard asked residents on Apáczai Csere János utca, Régiposta utca and Pesti Barnabás utca whose windows face the Marriott hotel to keep them closed for the whole duration of the event, writes mno.hu. Antal Rogán, mayor of Belváros-Lipótváros, said this request was nonsensical, impossible and exaggerated, as every resident has the right to air out their homes.

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