Repair work on the section of the M30 motorway between Miskolc and Szikszó (northeastern Hungary) continues to be delayed, leading to a heated dispute between the Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport and the Austrian construction company Strabag. The ministry accuses Strabag not only of massive delays in warranty repairs, but also of deliberately misleading the public and shifting responsibility. At the same time, an extraordinary audit has been announced due to suspected financial irregularities.
The section of the M30 motorway between Miskolc and Szikszó had to be closed in 2024 due to serious construction defects. It was originally scheduled to reopen to traffic at the end of October this year. This was a promise made by the construction company Strabag itself, but it is now clear that the deadline cannot be met.
In a statement, the Ministry of Construction and Transport unequivocally blamed the contractor Strabag for the ongoing closure. The reason for the closure was a construction error, which caused the road surface to “slip and sag.”
This is the company’s fault, period. There is no sugarcoating it; you cannot shirk responsibility,”
stated the ministry.
The ministry’s statement sharply criticized Strabag for dragging out the repair work for months instead of taking immediate action, even though it had promised to fix the defect. The necessary solutions had already been obvious in September 2024, but the company had done “nothing.” The delay affected not only the execution but also the planning. The Austrian company did not even adhere to its own schedule and instead “produced explanations” instead of working.
In the past, Strabag had invoked contractual obligations that prohibited it from communicating the status of the work to the public. The ministry rejected this argument, and emphasized that “in the meantime, however, every excuse has become invalid.
The company has been granted an exemption so that it can communicate with the public at any time and in any form – there are no further grounds for appeal, no further restrictions.”
“It is time for Strabag to finally stop making excuses and focus on what it promised: timely and flawless performance,” the ministry said.
The ministry emphasized that Strabag bears sole responsibility for the condition of the M30. If the company continues to fail to fulfill its contractual obligations, the ministry may consider pursuing legal action, they warned.
In addition, the Strabag subsidiary (M5 Holding GmbH), which owns AKA Zrt., is coming under scrutiny. According to the ministry, there are suspicions of financial irregularities in connection with its concession agreement. AKA Zrt. is seeking an extension of its concession agreement in the midst of the disputes over the M30.
The ministry has ordered not only a review of these conditions, but also an extraordinary audit to clarify alleged financial abuses in the past.
The ministry sent a clear message to the Austrian group: Strabag should, “instead of its irresponsible rampages,” prepare the complete financial statements for the last few years and “make an effort to deliver what it has promised.” The ministry said it would not allow Strabag to “dictate.”
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“Shame and Embarrassment”: Strabag Misses Deadline for M30 Warranty Repairs
Strabag is not able to finish the repairs on the M30 highway by the end of October.Continue reading
Via kormany.hu, Featured image: MTI/Vajda János
The post Strabag Faces Ultimatum and Extraordinary Audit Amid M30 Motorway Dispute appeared first on Hungary Today.
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