Hungary is moving forward with plans to extend the M44 expressway to the Romanian border, with design work expected to be completed by July 2028, according to officials from the Ministry of Construction and Transport.
Speaking at a local council meeting in Békéscsaba, Deputy State Secretary József Pántya, responsible for road and railway development, said the project represents one of the ministry’s most significant infrastructure tasks currently underway. He noted that planning work is already roughly halfway complete, though the complexity of the project makes it a major engineering and logistical challenge.
The planned extension will cover 43.2 kilometres between Békéscsaba and the Romanian border, transforming connectivity in southeastern Hungary.
The project includes six grade-separated interchanges, a complex rest area near Békés designed to accommodate fuel stations, and a newly built arched bridge over the Kettős-Körös River. A new engineering maintenance facility will also be constructed near Doboz to support long-term road operations.
In addition to the main expressway segment, the plans involve extensive upgrades to surrounding infrastructure. Nearly 23 kilometres of bypass roads will be built around Békés, Sarkad and Sarkadkeresztúr to reduce traffic congestion in town centres. Another 26 kilometres of road surface reinforcement is planned, along with improvements to more than 30 kilometres of municipally maintained roads.
Land acquisition for the project is expected to affect about 350 hectares, including 41 hectares of agricultural land. According to Pántya, negotiations with environmental authorities regarding protected areas have already been completed.
Coordination With Romania
Infrastructure projects near national borders require careful coordination between neighbouring countries, and in this case, Romania is already progressing with its own preparations.
Pántya said Romanian authorities are currently working on construction contracts for their side of the project, which has influenced the Hungarian planning strategy. As a result, the first construction phase is expected to focus on the Méhkerék–border section, ensuring the Hungarian expressway can connect smoothly with the road network being developed across the border.
Another related improvement will see the dirt road between Újszalonta and Mezőgyán upgraded to a paved road, further strengthening regional connectivity.
Infrastructure Designed for Tourism
One notable feature of the project is the design of the new Kettős-Körös bridge, which will accommodate not only motor traffic but also pedestrians and cyclists.
Officials say this reflects the area’s tourism potential. The Körös river region is known for nature tourism, cycling routes and recreational activities, and planners aim to integrate the new transport infrastructure with these existing attractions.
A Broader Regional Development Push
The M44 extension is part of a wider transport development strategy for eastern Hungary.
At the same meeting, László Tasó, ministerial commissioner responsible for road and rail development in northeastern Hungary, said the M44 expressway connection to the M5 motorway near Kecskemét will be fully completed by early 2027. Once that link is finished, nearly every major Hungarian city will be connected to the national expressway network.
Tasó noted that, relative to population size, Hungary now has a higher proportion of expressways per 1,000 kilometres than Austria, reflecting the country’s significant investment in transport infrastructure over the past decade.
The M44 project is only one part of the development plan affecting the region. The proposed M47 expressway, expected to connect with the M44 near Békéscsaba, represents another major infrastructure project with an estimated cost of HUF 350 billion. Once planning is complete, construction could take at least four years.
Transforming the “Viharsarok”
Taken together, these developments represent a massive infrastructure push for southeastern Hungary — a region historically known as the “Viharsarok” (Storm Corner).
According to Tasó, the coming years will bring “stormy development” to the region — this time in terms of investment rather than weather.
Transport-related projects alone could total around HUF 1 trillion in and around Békéscsaba. The M44 extension to the Romanian border is estimated to cost roughly HUF 230 billion, highlighting the scale of the government’s ambitions.
Connecting Hungary Eastward
If completed as planned, the M44 extension would significantly improve cross-border connectivity with Romania, facilitating both passenger travel and freight transport.
For businesses, the project could shorten logistics routes and strengthen economic links between Hungary and neighbouring markets. For local communities, bypass roads and improved regional connections may ease congestion and support economic activity.
While construction is still several years away, the design phase now underway marks an important step toward completing a transport corridor that could reshape mobility in southeastern Hungary — and strengthen links between Central and Eastern Europe.