Hudeček: The Trojan Bridge completely changed its structure during the construction

Prague - The Troja Bridge was ceremonially opened in Prague on Saturday, a construction that, according to Mayor Tomáš Hudeček, was accompanied by many absurd situations. Originally, a different bridge was commissioned from a structural perspective for 450 million crowns. During construction, its design was changed, and essentially a different bridge was built, Hudeček said. The final cost of the bridge amounts to around one billion crowns, he added. From an architectural perspective the mayor considers the bridge to be very beautiful.
     "The new Troja Bridge is built on a truly unique architectural design; Prague has received a very beautiful bridge in this regard," Hudeček said today to ČTK and TV Prima. The construction is part of an extensive project that can advance Prague in terms of transportation. According to him, Prague still needs five more bridges for good connections across the Vltava River. Hudeček believes that this bridge will not remain the last one for a long time.
    During the open day of the Blanka Tunnel and the new Troja Bridge, about 14,500 people visited. No problems arose, said Metrostav spokesperson František Polák to ČTK. Visitors walked through the tunnel but also rode through it on bikes or scooters. The number of visitors was slightly lower than at the last open day, which according to Polák was caused by today's opportunity to see the stations of the extended line A of the metro. The spokesman for the Prague public transport company, Jiří Štábl, estimated the number of metro visitors at 11,000.
    From Monday morning, cars, buses, and trams will begin to travel over the Troja Bridge across the Vltava, which is part of the Blanka tunnel complex and the inner Prague ring road. The first public transport connections will depart according to the timetable at 4:30. New bus lines will also start serving travelers at the same time.
    The entire tunnel complex will cost 36.9 billion crowns. According to Prague's promise, the first drivers will pass through it on December 2. The Blanka tunnel was originally supposed to be opened in 2011.
    Due to the commissioning of the bridge in Troja, changes have occurred in public transport. The transport company will restore the operation of tram line number 17 in the section between the stops Výstaviště Holešovice and Vozovna Kobylisy. The night tram line number 53 will return to its regular route. At the same time, a new bus line number 294 will be launched, which will connect both banks of the Vltava and will replace the line number 292. The placement of bus stops at Florenc will also change, informed Filip Drápal, spokesperson for Ropid, who plans schedules in Prague.