The new bridge in Jaroměř was installed by a large crane

Jaroměř (Náchodsko) - Today, builders in Jaroměř installed a new steel bridge over the Elbe with the help of a large crane onto the pillars. The original pedestrian and cyclist bridge was damaged by last year's floods and had to be demolished. The town's mayor, Jiří Klepsa, informed ČTK about it.
    The installation of the bridge followed a two-week preparation. Workers assembled the steel structure, which has been manufactured since September, on-site. A group of about thirty people participated in its installation since morning. The crane transported the 55-ton bridge 47 meters from its axis.
    "The bridge measures 60 meters. It was necessary to have a crane with a load capacity of 500 tons. The structure needed to be lifted from the place where it was being assembled and where it was temporarily supported and rotated over the river," said the site manager Kamil Málek to ČTK.
    The original bridge dates back to 1884, and a pedestrian walkway was added to it in 1931. The bridge primarily connects the Na Ostrově school with the main square. Last June, the swollen river split the bridge pillar, and the iron walkway also collapsed.
    The town hall wanted to temporarily bridge the river, which would have been quite expensive. The design by architect Mirko Baum won the competition, which was also contributed to by David Baroš and Vladimír Janata, where the bridge resembles a spine in their vision. The committee selected from more than fifty proposals in total. Architect Baum also previously designed a foot and cycle bridge over the Orlice River in Hradec Králové in the Hradec Králové region.
    "Baum's works are characterized by fragile forms of original and as dematerialized steel structures as possible. His most famous work is the modern steel truss over the nave of the Carmelite monastery in Frankfurt am Main," said art historian Pavel Panoch to ČTK.
    The construction company is expected to complete the work by February 5. They still need to install the grating beams and walkable structures, among other things. The city will pay 27.2 million crowns for it, 18.2 million of which was obtained from European subsidies. They will also still try to obtain state subsidies. "It will be a very nice modern landmark for the city," said Mayor Klepsa.