Engineers and technicians recommend that Prague demolish the Libeň Bridge

Prague - The Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians (ČKAIT) recommends that the capital city demolish the Libeň Bridge and construct a new one. According to the chamber, the bridge is irreparable. This is stated in a letter from the Prague ČKAIT sent to Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO). There have been disputes over the reconstruction or demolition of the bridge for years, and some politicians and members of the public oppose the demolition. On Thursday, Prague representatives are to discuss the fate of the bridge. The bridge, built in 1928, is in very poor condition.

According to technicians and engineers, the condition of the bridge and the use of materials do not comply with current standards and requirements. The quality of the concrete is poor, and reinforcements are missing in the arches, for instance. It is also said that it is not possible to achieve the load capacity required by standards. The structure of the bridge is at the end of its lifespan. The letter also stated that the fate of the bridge has become a subject of political struggle.

Thus, ČKAIT recommends in the letter that the city leadership and representatives lean towards demolishing the bridge and constructing a new one based on the building permit issued back in 2009, and continue searching for a construction company. "Only in this way can the city obtain a modern bridge with a lifespan of 100 years in 2021," the chamber writes.

In contrast, the ruling coalition of the Triple Coalition (SZ, KDU-ČSL, and STAN), along with ANO, ČSSD, Prague 7, citizen associations, and some experts oppose the demolition. According to critics, the bridge with cubist elements has historical value. The plenary council of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) also does not recommend demolishing the bridge. Instead, the city should, according to the council, urgently prepare for the construction of a new bridge between Holešovice and Karlin.

Most recently, the leadership of the Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences opposed the demolition, sending an open letter to Prague representatives, stating that, in their opinion, the bridge is a unique example of Czech modern architecture from the first half of the 20th century.

The fate of the bridge has sparked a conflict among the parties of the municipal coalition, which are currently in negotiation processes. According to ANO and ČSSD, the Triple Coalition violated the coalition agreement during the last meeting of representatives when Jan Čižinský (KDU-ČSL/Triple Coalition) and representative Matěj Stropnický (SZ/Triple Coalition) did not support the agenda due to disputes over the future of the Libeň Bridge, causing the meeting to be adjourned prematurely.

The Libeň Bridge from 1928 is in poor condition. The city leadership justified the proposal to demolish the bridge by stating that the construction of a new one would be cheaper and faster than repairs. The fate of the bridge was also addressed in the past by the Ministry of Culture, but it did not declare it a cultural monument.