The company repairing Prague's Libeň Bridge is to be known by the end of the year

Prague – The company that will repair the Libeň Bridge in Prague and reconstruct its surroundings could be known by the end of this year. The Technical Department of Communications (TSK) today closed the acceptance of bids from suppliers. This is stated in a TSK document available to ČTK. The department has announced a contract for the reconstruction of the Libeň Bridge and the redesign of its surroundings. The process is selecting both the designer and the builder. The repair is planned to cost nearly three billion crowns, and the start of work is currently scheduled for 2022. The bridge, built in 1928, has never been repaired.

According to information from ČTK, two companies have applied for the selection procedure: Metrostav TBR and a consortium of companies Strabag, Eurovia, SMP, and Pragoprojekt. It is currently unclear which of the bids will be chosen by TSK. Additionally, the company Firesta-Fišer has appealed against the process.

"After twenty years of debates about the fate of the bridge, something is finally happening. According to the previous political representation, it was supposed to be demolished due to alleged poor condition, which has never been objectively confirmed. From our diagnostics, we know that the 'Libeňák' is reconstructable, and we have pursued this path. It is a pride of Prague architecture with an incalculable value," stated Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě).

The subject of the contract is the reconstruction and redesign of the Libeň Bridge complex from the intersection with Dělnická and Jankovcova streets to Palmovka. The contract does not only concern the complex but the selected company will also work on restoring the Vltava branch, build bike paths, or create a barrier-free access to the bridge from Rohanský island, which will be transformed into a recreational area. A so-called flushing canal will also be constructed.

TSK and the city have chosen the design & build method, where one company provides the design and also carries out the work. Interested parties can submit their bids to TSK until February 22 next year, and the anticipated date for signing the contract with the selected company is set for the end of the first half of 2022, according to the document. The contract will be concluded for 60 months.

The Libeň Bridge from 1928 is in a state of emergency. The bridge was temporarily closed to cars and public transport two years ago due to this condition. This year, diagnostics showed that all arches have the same load-bearing capacity as at the time of construction. The previous leadership of Prague planned to demolish the bridge and replace it with a new structure, but the current management of the magistrate decided on a repair.