Debrecen4U
March 31, 2026
New District Developments in Józsa
The planned development sites in Debrecen’s Józsa district were inspected on 30 March 2026 by Mayor László Papp, Deputy Mayors Lajos Barcsa and Ákos Balázs, as well as city councillor Róbert Juráskó. The investments were also discussed at a subsequent press briefing.
As Mayor László Papp summarised at one of the locations, three developments affecting Józsa will significantly influence transport towards Debrecen: the widening of Main Road 35 to dual carriageway; the construction of Józsa’s northern bypass (Main Road 353); and the building of a connecting road and grade-separated junction linking Main Road 354 to Main Road 33 via Domokos Márton Street. Józsa therefore plays a fully prominent role in Debrecen’s transport development. The primary driving force behind this is to reduce traffic load and its negative impacts on this excellent suburban district. Through traffic currently places an enormous burden on Józsa residents. These three solutions will encourage those arriving from the north to use the M35 motorway rather than Main Road 35 through Józsa. The mayor highlighted that significant progress has been made recently regarding Main Road 353, the northern bypass: last year the construction permit was obtained, and in recent days the detailed design has been completed. According to him, following an election success, the next steps may come: government decision, securing of funding, and the start of construction. This would mark a major step forward in reducing northbound traffic through Józsa, making it a more liveable, safer and less congested part of Debrecen. The mayor also noted that, in addition to transport developments, public lighting improvements will take place on Ezerjó Street and Vállalkozók Road, a 500-metre section of Sillye Gábor Street will be resurfaced, and landscaping and park improvements will be carried out in Józsa’s centre. He expressed strong confidence that, in cooperation with residents, the city can continue to support this development.
At the press briefing, Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa emphasised that Józsa is one of Debrecen’s fastest-developing districts, and accordingly the city leadership is allocating substantial funds from the municipal budget to its development—pavements, new roads, road repairs, and welfare investments such as environmental rehabilitation under the Civaqua programme, playgrounds and running tracks, along with associated public lighting improvements. He stressed that many young families live in Józsa, which is why special attention is given to playground development, including the one on Kiserdő Street at the end of Tokaji Street. Here, the fence has already been renovated, a completely new play structure will be installed, and the possibility of installing ball-stop nets at the football pitch is being examined. Public lighting is a priority, as several new streets have recently been opened, including Ezerjó Street following land subdivision. This year, lighting will be installed there, and the possibility of paving the street from next year is also under consideration. Lighting upgrades are also crucial on Vállalkozók Road in southern Felsőjózsa, where small and medium-sized enterprises operate and residents use the road to access Main Road 35. Tree pruning has already improved safety, and this year lighting will be upgraded, followed—expectedly next year—by pavement construction, making commuting easier for employees.
The deputy mayor also mentioned that Debrecen’s 2026 budget includes HUF 2.4 billion for major road repairs, a significant portion of which will be spent in Józsa. A 500-metre section of heavily used Sillye Gábor Street will receive new asphalt, and a new road section will be built on Platán Street in Alsójózsa. A considerable share of the HUF 340 million allocated for pavement and stair renovations will also be spent in Józsa. A 100-metre stretch of pavement will be renewed near the kindergarten and school on Gönczy Pál Street. On Elek Street, a collector road in Felsőjózsa, a substantial pavement section was already built last year, and further construction is planned. Elek Street and Rózsavölgy Street have also come into focus due to increased traffic following the opening of the motorway junction; speed enforcement cameras will be installed to enforce the 30 km/h limit, while long-term plans aim to reduce traffic load. A new bus shelter will also be built on Bocskai Street. The deputy mayor stressed the importance of the northern bypass, which has been designed to affect northern Felsőjózsa, encouraging drivers from Hajdúböszörmény to use the motorway. New access roads will also connect Felsőjózsa to the bypass.
Lajos Barcsa underlined that the municipality aims to make Józsa an attractive home for even more families in this beautiful environment, and development is proceeding in that spirit.
Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs highlighted that at the beginning of the current municipal term, together with Mayor László Papp and Councillor Róbert Juráskó, they agreed to focus on three key areas in Józsa: infrastructure development—especially roads—future-oriented (educational) investments, and environmental protection with support for healthy lifestyles. Accordingly, two nurseries have been built, water replenishment has been provided to the Tócó stream, and major road developments are ahead that will resolve Józsa’s traffic issues in the long term. He also noted that approximately 10,000 vehicles travel daily between Hajdúböszörmény and Józsa, with an additional 12,000 vehicles originating from Józsa. This traffic converges on Böszörményi Road, especially during morning peak hours. The bypass aims to distribute traffic heading towards Debrecen, while also ensuring multiple access points from within Józsa, including from the Kastély Street area in Alsójózsa. Roundabouts and digital travel-time displays will assist drivers in route selection. A new access road from Gönczy Pál Street will connect to the bypass, with a roundabout at its junction, and a protective forest will be planted alongside it to preserve green values. Agricultural roads will also be created along the bypass to support farming activities.
He added that a long-standing wish of Józsa residents is the construction of a dual carriageway between Debrecen and Józsa to increase capacity and safety. Plans include two roundabouts: one at the junction of Szordasi Road and Vállalkozók Road, and a dual-lane one at the end of Sillye Gábor Street. Extensive consultations are ongoing regarding environmental, safety and infrastructure aspects.
Ákos Balázs reiterated the importance of environmental protection, noting that Nagyrét is the only remaining inner pasture in Debrecen and a habitat for protected species, and is therefore carefully safeguarded. For this reason, the dual carriageway will be built on the opposite side rather than towards the pasture, replacing the current cycle path—which will in turn be rebuilt to a higher standard.
The new junction currently under construction on Main Road 354 will help relieve Böszörményi Road and provide an alternative route into Debrecen. According to Ákos Balázs, these developments are expected to resolve Józsa’s transport issues in the long term.
He also mentioned that Debrecen will begin establishing a City Management Centre this year, from which road traffic will be monitored and controlled. These developments, supported by the government, will be most effective when combined with digital, data-driven urban management and traffic organisation.
Councillor Róbert Juráskó stated that numerous consultations have taken place in response to residents’ and businesses’ needs. In his view, the plans have been widely welcomed, as they include smaller but important developments such as resurfacing, road construction, pavement building on Kiss Ernő Street, welfare improvements around the running track, and upgrades to event venues. Residents also strongly support the major transport investments, which will resolve traffic problems and, in his words, determine the district’s future for the next hundred years. These developments will greatly benefit families and businesses in Józsa. “Józsa is a good place to live,” he concluded, adding that local representatives are working to ensure everyone feels at home there.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
