The renovation of Masaryk Square in Jihlava should start no later than next spring

Jihlava – The planned renovation of the first part of the historic Masarykovo náměstí in Jihlava should begin no later than next spring, also to ensure the city does not lose funding. Mayor Petr Ryška (ODS) said this to journalists today. The city is conducting preparatory work. Its council has now selected a company for the construction worth 26.8 million crowns excluding value-added tax, which includes, among other things, the construction of a drainage system for rainwater from the center via underground collectors to the river.

Masarykovo náměstí, covering nearly 3.7 hectares, is one of the largest in the Czech Republic. The city has been preparing for its renovation for several years and is currently negotiating the issuance of a building permit. "I had hoped we would start this year in the fall with some part, perhaps on the western side. At this moment, it looks like we could start next spring," the mayor stated regarding the start of the revitalization. The city could receive a grant of around 100 million crowns for the first phase, which should be completed no later than 2028.

The southern and western parts of the square should be addressed first, where, among other things, a row of trees will be added. In the lower part of the square, the construction of two retention tanks for rainwater, which can be used for irrigation, is planned. The collectors, which are modern underground corridors used for engineering networks, will carry excess water from the center to the river. The design will be such that during heavy rainfall, the water flow in the collectors will be slowed down, preventing the river level from rising.

According to Ryška, the costs for the new adjustment of the entire square, including the adjacent Znojemská and Křížová streets, will certainly be around half a billion crowns. He believes that the city should secure further funding for the continuation of the project.

The architectural competition for the renovation of the square was held by the city council in 2018, won by MCA atelier. Jihlava has extensive historical underground structures. Modern underground corridors, collectors, were mainly built in the 1980s. Electric, telephone, and data cables, as well as water and sewage pipes, are stored within them.