The Transport Department does not agree with the design of the temporary footbridge in Troja

Prague - The provisional footbridge in Troja, which the city plans to build on the site of the footbridge that collapsed last year, has received a negative opinion from the transport department of Prague 7. According to the department, the width of the footbridge is inadequate. This follows from a statement from the office, which was published on social media by Deputy Mayor Petr Dolínek (ČSSD). The Troja footbridge collapsed last December, with two of the four injured in serious condition. The case is still under investigation by the police. Currently, a ferry is transporting people in Troja.

The proposed width of the provisional footbridge is 3.5 meters, which the office deems inadequate due to the large number of pedestrians, cyclists, and inline skaters heading to the zoo, botanical garden, and local bike paths. "For this reason, a minimum width of the passage space of four meters is necessary, but an optimal width of six meters would allow for safe operation on the footbridge. At a passage space width of six meters, it would be possible to separate pedestrian and bidirectional cycling traffic," the justification states. The collapsed footbridge in Troja had a width of 3.8 meters, with the sidewalk being three meters wide.

The transport department also has objections regarding the construction of the supporting structure from wooden planks. "The crossing of wheels and inline skates over wooden planks would significantly increase the noise in the area. For this reason, we require a uniform surface on the footbridge with anti-slip treatment," states the justification for the second objection raised by the office.

"The construction of the temporary footbridge will therefore take place not in a matter of months, but in a matter of years. The objections are unfounded; there will be an architectural competition for the permanent footbridge," Dolínek stated on Facebook. According to earlier statements from city representatives, the provisional footbridge should be completed next year. However, work is also complicated by the fact that the original footbridge was not included in the zoning plan, and the city must prepare an amendment to it. This amendment could be completed by early 2019. The city aims to announce an architectural competition for the final design of the footbridge next year.

The left bank of the Vltava River with Troja should be connected by two more footbridges, but the city has not yet decided on their construction. One is meant to be for pedestrians downstream from the collapsed one. The other would lead from Podbaba to the zoo, and trams would operate on it. According to the plans from the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), the track would lead further to Bohnice from there. However, Prague 8 opposed this. According to CTK information, the city and IPR are considering an option for a tram loop to be created near the zoo. A decision has not yet been made on this option either.

Prague has long-standing problems with the state of bridges and footbridges. Last December, a footbridge for pedestrians collapsed between Císařský island and Troja, and the Libeň Bridge was closed for several weeks, requiring support. The Hlávka and Palacký bridges also need repairs, and a reconstruction of the Barrandov Bridge is underway. Due to poor conditions, it was also necessary to reinforce the footbridge over the Berounka River in Radotín in April.