Brno plans to start revitalizing the Svratka riverbank next year for 400 million

Brno - Brno should start revitalizing the banks of the Svratka River next year in the section from the Riviéra swimming pool to the viaduct on Uhelná Street. The works include flood protection measures, as well as walkways for pedestrians and new greenery. The estimated costs are 400 million crowns, said Deputy Mayor Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) to reporters today. The city will obtain more than half from a subsidy from the European Union. Hladík will propose to begin preparations for work on other sections of the Svratka and also on the Svitava River.

The completion of the construction on the Svratka River in the section from Riviéra to the viaduct on Uhelná is planned for 2022. "The main goal is to protect Old Brno from floods and create a vibrant zone around the rivers where people can gather. Routes for walks, cafes, and similar venues will be established along both banks," said Hladík, who is responsible for the environment. According to him, this will protect Mendlovo Square, Vídenská Street, and the surrounding area from floods.

The section will be constructed according to the winning design of the late architect Ivan Ruller. "Therefore, I would welcome it if the promenade created along Poříčí Street were named Ruller’s Waterfront," Hladík noted.

He himself will propose that the city leadership begin preparatory work on other sections of Brno's rivers. "This would concern the Svitava River from the weir in Maloměřice to the weir on Radlas Street. Then there are two sections on the Svratka, from the bridge on Uhelná Street to the bridge on Sokolova Street and another from the bridge on Sokolová to Vomáčkova Street," Hladík described.

He added that work on these sections is a matter of the future. "If we could accomplish this, we would have the vast majority of the city's territory protected. Only Obřany, part of Kníničky, and Žabovřeské and Komínské meadows would remain unprotected,” said Hladík. These sections would cost additional hundreds of millions of crowns.