Hradec Králové will allocate 70 million crowns for the reconstruction of Benešova Street

HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ - The town hall in Hradec Králové is preparing to renovate part of the problematic Benešova Street in the largest Hradec housing estate of Moravské Předměstí for approximately 70 million crowns. The project involving the complete reconstruction of the reinforced concrete covered sidewalks and staircases near panel houses is scheduled for completion by 2008. This year, the city plans to invest about 15 million crowns in the repairs. Hradec's mayor Otakar Divíšek stated this to ČTK.
The four-lane street surrounded by multi-storey panel houses for about 10,000 residents was created in the 1980s and was intended to become a new shopping and social center of the city. Now some architects describe it as a remnant of the megalomania of the communist regime, which does not meet today’s housing needs.
In other housing estates, unusual sidewalks with iron structures are in a state of considerable disrepair. "The repair is very demanding. It involves exposing and re-welding the entire steel frame and painting it with a special coating, replacing railings and ceiling panels. The sidewalk will be made of special concrete," described the repair the city hall’s deputy Martin Soukup.
The Hradec town hall has so far spent about ten million crowns annually on maintaining Benešova Street. "In the last nine years, we have sunk about 100 million crowns into the maintenance of the street, which are not visible anywhere," said Divíšek. The repaired sidewalks are intended to be donated to the owners of adjoining properties, who would then take care of them themselves in the future.
In addition, the town hall wants to give Benešova Street a friendlier face through a project with the public benefit company Partnerství from Brno. This company should primarily find out what people, institutions, and entrepreneurs on Benešova Street and in the area are most lacking and prepare specific projects in this regard for the city. For example, this could involve new tree planting, the creation of attractions for children and youth, or the addition of appropriate street furniture.