Hungarian government approves second phase of M49 highway to Romanian border

Hungary’s cabinet has decided to continue the M49 highway project, authorising the build of a 2-lane, 45-kilometre stretch that will run from the M3 near Csenger to the town of Szatmárnémeti on the Romanian frontier, and will include a new border crossing. Transport and Investment Minister Vitézy Dávid announced the move, noting that the contract with Duna Aszfalt was signed in 2024 but financing was stalled after Lázár János redirected the earmarked funds before the election, leaving the contractor without payment guarantees.

The land-acquisition phase, originally expected to last 20 months, has extended beyond three years because of prior governmental restrictions. The segment from Ököritófülpös to the border is expected to be finished by the end of this autumn, while the remaining stretch to the frontier is targeted for completion by 2029. On the Romanian side, a parallel expressway between Szatmárnémeti and Óvár has already been contracted and is projected to be ready by spring 2029, together establishing a continuous high-speed corridor between Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county and North Transylvania.