The State Motorway Management Co. Ltd., founded on 29 August 2000 by way of a merger of three companies, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of roughly three quarters of Hungary’s expressway system and for the checking of road use authorisation on toll roads. The current network and the scheduled new sections constitute continuous and long-term duties for the Company, which now has over a thousand employees.

SMMC’s priorities, as expressed after its foundation, are as follows:

  - highest (A) quality operation of the expressway network according to motorway regulations;
  - attain a consistently high road quality through the coordination of reconstruction works;
  - introduce a uniform toll system;
  - improve the service quality of rest stops;
  - create state-of-the-art, standard-equipped engineering bureau facilities;
  - ensure equality in work conditions and wages.

The goals listed above had been practically achieved by the end of 2004.

Key events in the history of SMMC

During the first five years, the company’s business was based on revenues from the sales of motorway vignettes. However, since 2006 the Transport Development Coordination Centre (KKK, whose legal predecessor was the Road Management and Coordination Directorate, UKIG) has been in charge of these revenues. One of the key elements of this financing structure is an O&M (Operating & Maintenance) agreement concluded between our company and the KKK, with the object of carrying out the management tasks of what we refer to as non-Program Roads. According to the agreement, SMMC receives a specified amount of funding (the “availability fee”) providing the motorways under its management are made available to and are of a suitable quality for passenger cars and goods vehicles, according to the conditions previously laid out in the agreement. The availability fee is disbursed by the KKK on behalf of the government, effectively in exchange for certain services. The payment is dependent on the level of quality of the services provided. In the event that the level of service fails to meet the conditions laid out in the agreement, the fee is reduced. This system ensures the appropriate quality and cost-efficiency of the operation of the motorway network.

As of 1 April 2007, trucks are subject to toll payment on some highway and primary road sections as well. In 2007, the extension of the toll system to primary roads included only vehicles in category D4, but from 2008, vehicles in categories D2 and D3 were also affected by the changes, with the exception of buses.

The overall length of the Hungarian expressway network grew significantly in 2008, by close to 70km. A number of new sections were opened that year, including the Eastern sector and part of the Northern sector of the M0 expressway (including the Megyeri Bridge), a new section of the M6 motorway between the M0 and the Érd summit, and the missing sections of the M7 and M70 motorways.

Under the amendment to the relevant ministerial decree and based on the amendment at the end of 2007 of the act on public transport, as of 1 January 2009, mobile group checks previously performed by the State Motorway Management Company are carried out by the National Transport Authority.

Since May 2010, proprietary rights of the company have been exercised by the Hungarian Development Bank (MFB).

As a result of activities by SMMC Ltd., no section of road under the company’s management is more than 10 years old, protective fences have been installed throughout the system, and the roadwork fleet has been upgraded. In addition to the construction of new engineering bureaus, reconstruction of the older ones is now complete. Introduction of state-of-the-art electronic systems that increase transport safety is continuous (Connect Programme). Refurbished, updated, and aesthetically pleasing rest areas, with a range of continuously developing services, provide first-rate service to motorists.

For more information on the road network, click ROAD NETWORK in the menu.