Hradec Králové will temporarily repair the Great Square

"The condition of the square is now unsustainable, in some places dangerous for walking and driving," admitted the deputy mayor for investments Jindřich Vedlich (Decent Politics and Hradec Patriots). The repair of the most damaged areas of Great Square will be carried out by municipal technical services. For roadways and sidewalks, it will involve local repairs of sunken and damaged areas. For the parking areas in the middle of the square, workers will grind off the crumbling asphalt and lay a new layer of asphalt. Repairs began in recent days and should last until the end of October.

The construction office in Hořice has been dealing with the construction process for the square's reconstruction since August 2016, as the territorial proceedings were transferred there due to concerns of bias from the city management and the Hradec office. "No one knows when the Hořice office will issue the territorial decision. It could take several months," stated Mayor Zdeněk Fink (HDK). He did not rule out that new obstructions from people unhappy with the proposed reduction of parking spaces in the square might still arise in further construction proceedings.

The reconstruction of Great Square has also become a topic in the upcoming municipal elections in Hradec Králové. The opposition accuses the city management of being unable to make progress with the reconstruction. Practically all parties have the repair of the square as a priority in their election programs. Most leaders of the candidate parties believe that negotiation and compromise with opponents of the planned redevelopment could be a solution.

The city should repair the square according to the proposal by ARN, the studio of architect Jiří Krejčík. His design divides the square into a lively part with parking, arcades, and restaurants, and a quieter, relaxing part dominated by church buildings on the southern side. The Hradec city hall also obtained a European grant for the construction, but in 2012, concerns that it would not meet the deadline set by the grant led the city to return the funds.