The Libeň Bridge from 1928 is in deteriorating condition, a complete renovation is being prepared

Prague - The profile of the Libeňský Bridge in Prague (experts recommended demolishing the closed part of the Prague Libeňský Bridge):

- The bridge over the Vltava River, which is actually a complex made up of six bridges, connects the left bank district of Holešovice with the right bank of Libeň. Downstream, it is the 16th bridge in Prague (including the recently opened Štvanická footbridge), it is located in a bend of the river and carries a road and a dual-track tram line.

- The Libeňský Bridge was opened on October 29, 1928, to mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. Its authors were Pavel Janák (1882 to 1956), a prominent representative of Czech interwar architecture, and the bridge builder and engineer František Mencl (1879 to 1960). Construction of the bridge began in late 1924, and its predecessor was a temporary wooden bridge (1903) that originally served during the construction of the Legions Bridge at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

- Over the years, the construction has undergone several name changes. It was called the Libeňský Bridge (1928 to 1938), Bax's Bridge (1938 to 1940), again Libeňský (1940 to 1945), once more Bax's (1945 to 1952), then Stalingrad Bridge (1952 to 1962), and since 1962 back to Libeňský.

- The actual bridge structure is 370 meters long, with the earth ramp on the Holešovice side extending the total length to 780 meters. The bridge was originally the longest road bridge in Prague. Its width is 21 meters. The Libeňský Bridge has eight cantilevered staircases, which, along with a massive railing, the sculptural treatment of pillars, and concrete lighting poles, are a significant cubist feature.

- The bridge is now in a state of emergency; it has not undergone any significant repairs since its inception. For some time, heavier vehicles have been prohibited from using it, and trams could only pass slowly and with restrictions. The bridge was also damaged during the floods in 2002. In 2004, a plan emerged to radically reconstruct (or possibly demolish) and widen the bridge. Resistance from both experts and the general public led to a request for the bridge to be declared a cultural monument. Proposals were submitted by the club Za starou Prahu and the initiative Libeňský bridge not to be demolished or widened. Against the demolition stood Prague 7 and civic associations.

- Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University has examined the bridge, concluding that the concrete pillars are damaged by corrosion and the mechanical properties of the concrete are unstable. In December 2017, the then leadership of Prague announced that they would begin repairs on the bridge even if the ministry does not decide that it is a cultural monument. The municipal council had already approved the repairs in 2016. In February 2018, the Ministry of Culture announced that the bridge would not be classified as a cultural monument.

- In January 2018, the Libeňský Bridge had to be closed to cars and public transport for about a month and subsequently supported. Three months later, Prague councilors decided that the city would demolish the bridge and build a new one. The city’s leadership justified the proposal of demolition by stating that building a new bridge would be cheaper and quicker than repairing the old one. Some politicians, civic associations, and the governing council of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) opposed this, while the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians (ČKAIT) recommended the demolition of the bridge. In October 2018, the new coalition of Pirates, Prague Sobě, and United Forces for Prague (TOP 09, STAN, and KDU-ČSL) agreed that the bridge should be repaired.

- Last December, Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) and Director of the Technical Road Administration (TSK) Jozef Sinčák announced that road workers would have to demolish a larger part of the Libeňský Bridge during its reconstruction over the Vltava than was originally expected. The pillars will remain, on which a replica of the original bridge will arise. This is due to the results of static tests. Some originally planned procedures are now prohibited by new European legislation. According to Sinčák, this should not change the estimated cost of repairs, which is 2.1 billion crowns.

- Last week, in response to this information, Prague councilors approved, after nearly five hours of discussion, the proposal from the opposition movement ANO to rename the investment project "reconstruction of the Libeňský Bridge" to "construction of the Libeňský Bridge".

- Since January 11 of this year, the flood bridge has been closed to trams, cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. Its damage was likely caused by severe frost. Road workers discovered the defect during geodetic measurements of the arched structure and monitoring of the joints at the top of the arched flood bridge. The bridge over the Vltava is not closed. Pedestrians and cyclists can bypass the closed section via a footbridge to the Dock complex and Schtorchova Street up the ramp to the bridge.

- TSK spokesperson Barbora Lišková said today that experts have come to a clear conclusion that they do not recommend the restoration of traffic on the flood bridge. They also recommended the demolition of this part of the complex. Road workers will wait for a valid building permit and then begin the demolition of the bridge. Work could start this April. The historic parts of the Libeňský Bridge over the Vltava will not be affected, and it will remain in operation. The flood bridge serves as a preventive measure against flooding; it is located on the bank, allowing water to flow under it during floods.