The announcement will issue a tender for the project and repair of the Libeň Bridge in October

Prague - The Prague Technical Road Administration (TSK) will announce a public contract in October for the contractor of the project and construction of the repair of the Libeň Bridge. The part over the water will be repaired, and on the Libeň bank, a so-called inundation bridge will be built. The costs for the repair of the bridge complex will amount to approximately two billion crowns, and additional funds will be needed for modifications to the surrounding area. The first work could begin in 2022. This was reported to journalists today by the mayor's deputy Adam Scheinherr (Prague Together) and TSK director Jozef Sinčák. The bridge, built in 1928, has never been repaired.

"Architecturally valuable bridges will be preserved; it is not just a bridge over the Vltava River, but also a bridge over the former arm of the Vltava that flowed until 1928 towards Palmovka. These two parts are architecturally valuable and contain precious cubist elements," said Scheinherr.

In addition to the mentioned bridges that will be repaired, a new inundation bridge will be created on the Libeň bank, which will now be built on pillars and under which water will be able to flow in case of flooding. "This will ensure that in the event of a flood, the water level in Holešovice and Karlín will be much lower than in 2002 because the water will flow through," said Scheinherr. At present, this part is on an embankment.

The work and the contract that TSK will announce do not only pertain to the bridge complex but will also involve the restoration of the Vltava arm, the creation of cycle paths, or barrier-free access to the bridge from Rohanský Island, which will be transformed into a recreational area. A so-called flushing channel will be constructed. "We will now coordinate all these steps into one project," said Scheinherr.

TSK and the city have chosen the project&build method, where one company provides the project and simultaneously performs the work. Some parts of a former project that considered demolition have been incorporated into the repair project. "It will thus be possible to a significant extent to utilize already approved construction decisions," said Sinčák.

After the repair, the bridge is expected to maintain the same extent and intensity of traffic as it has today. Trams will travel both ways, there will be a traffic lane for cars in each direction, and cycle lanes will be created.

The cost of reconstructing the bridge complex is estimated at 1.967 billion crowns. Additional work, such as building flood barriers, a flushing channel, or a retention basin, will amount to 455 million crowns.

The Libeň Bridge from 1928 is in emergency condition. The year before last, it was temporarily closed to cars and public transport due to this. This year, during inspections, it was revealed that all arches show the same load-bearing capacity as at the time of construction. The previous leadership of Prague had planned to demolish the bridge and replace it with a new structure, but the current leadership of the city council decided on repairs.

Prague has long-standing issues with the condition of its bridges. At the beginning of December 2017, a footbridge collapsed between Císařský Island and Troja. Four people were injured in the accident. A new footbridge will be completed this October. Prague is currently also addressing the repair of the Hlávků Bridge. The Palacký Bridge is also in poor condition, and this year Prague is repairing the lower parts of the Barrandov Bridge.