Hradec Králové approved an agreement with ČSOB regarding the footbridge, avoiding a fine

Hradec Králové - The city of Hradec Králové will not have to pay the Czechoslovak Commercial Bank (ČSOB) a multi-million fine for failing to build a footbridge over the Elbe by the deadline at the site of the bank's new regional headquarters. Today, the representatives of Hradec Králové approved an agreement between the city and the bank, which, through an amendment to the contract, sets new conditions and deadlines for the construction of the city footbridge.

According to the amendment, the city must obtain a change in the building permit for the footbridge from the building authority by the end of May, and then construct the footbridge within three years. If the city does not obtain the permit for changes from the authorities, it will abandon the current project and start preparing a completely new footbridge project. Subsequently, the city will need to obtain a new land-use decision for the new project and build the footbridge within three years.

According to the Deputy Mayor for Investments Jiří Bláha (ODS), the bank must follow the land-use decision while constructing the building, which is tied to the already completed footbridge. "In order for ČSOB to be able to finish its building even without the footbridge, we must change our land-use decision, which will allow a partial change in the bank's project for its completion," explained Bláha.

The city committed to building the footbridge in the Aldis area in its contract with ČSOB; the designs for the footbridge and the ČSOB building are interconnected. The existing contract stipulates that if the city fails to complete the footbridge by April 2020, it must return one-third of the 45.6 million crowns to the bank, for which it previously sold the land for the construction of the headquarters. This represents a penalty of 15.2 million crowns.

The city hall has been preparing the footbridge construction since 2003. It has launched three unsuccessful tenders for the footbridge. The last tender was canceled due to the high price, with the only bidder offering a price of 142 million crowns excluding VAT. The city originally estimated the construction cost at around 48 million crowns excluding VAT, most of which was to be covered by a grant.

This year, the city intends to announce a fourth tender. It aims to secure a higher grant for the construction. A special feature of the proposed footbridge is that it is to be constructed using an unusual technology of special high-strength concrete.