Bridge Over the Stream

The 15-meter long, steel–wooden composite construction permanent bridge has a load-carrying capacity of 20 tons in line with the local road network. Apart from providing residents with a safe and easily accessible means of crossing, the bridge is a great help to local entrepreneurs as well.

The structure is 6 meters in width. It has a 3.8 meter-wide lane for one-way traffic and two one-meter-wide pedestrian walkways with wooden safety railing.

The bridge is a result of civil and military cooperation (since civilians and NGOs also took an active part in the construction works, the preparation of the stream bottom and the lifting of the remains of the previous bridge). LTG Tibor Benkő, Chief, MoD Defence Staff, Col. (Eng.) József Nyers, Commanding Officer, HDF 37th Rákóczi Ferenc II Engineer Regiment, Brig-Gen. János Huszár, Deputy Commander and Chief of the Land Forces, HDF Joint Force Command, Károly Tili, the mayor of Kolontár and József Ékes, the MP of the region attended the inauguration ceremony.

Instead of the traditional beer-barrel, two all-terrain trucks of the Hungarian Defence Forces rolled over the wooden wearing course of the bridge to demonstrate its excellent load-carrying capacity. The urgent need for the bridge was evidenced by the presence of a small group of people patiently waiting to cross at its end during the inauguration ceremony.

Kolontár is hoping for a return to normality. Several units of the Hungarian Defence Forces including 31 troops of the Szentes engineer regiment have been doing their best to achieve this goal. In recognition of their work, LTG Tibor Benkő promoted Corp. Lajos Balogh and Corp. Csaba Mihály Hurzsán to lance sergeant and handed over mementos to SFC Zoltán Kalácsi, SFC László Kucsera, Corp. Ferenc Sárga and Corp. Ferenc Tóth.