The repair of the Negrelli viaduct will be delayed, 14 arches must be demolished

According to Martin Ředina from the construction company Hochtief, it became clear during the preparatory works that some parts of the bridge are in worse condition than originally anticipated. The completion date for the modernization is now estimated to be April 2020, but the exact date will only be known after further progress of the repairs.

"The viaduct is a unique cultural monument. We are repairing it sensitively in accordance with the requirements of conservationists and at the same time ensuring increased comfort for railway passengers," said Minister of Transport Dan Ťok (for ANO).

Ťok welcomed that the viaduct is being reconstructed with maximum use of original materials and that there is an effort to preserve its historical value. "Here, some pillars and arches will be made completely anew and will be done in the same way as they were 170 years ago," he told journalists during the construction tour. "The bridge will basically look as it did at its inception," he added.

According to the minister, the reconstruction of the Negrelli Viaduct is the first construction within the project of a new railway to Kladno with a branch to Václav Havel Airport. Other railway constructions are also being prepared in Prague, according to him. For example, the railway bridge at Výtoni is to undergo reconstruction to increase its capacity.

According to the railway administration, the reconstruction is one-third complete. The work should now move to the riverbed of the Vltava between the Bubenské embankment and Štvanice. Last year, SŽDC removed superstructures and additions as part of the repairs, taking down the track superstructure and the traction line.

According to the railway workers' plan, all 99 original bridge arches are undergoing rehabilitation. Two bridge structures between Prvního pluku and Křížíkova streets will be completely replaced. During the reconstruction, all parts that previously had different structures or shapes will be unified. In addition, the builders will completely replace the railway superstructure of the construction, including technological parts and foundation rehabilitation. The reconstruction should reduce noise from passing trains due to the incorporation of anti-vibration mats.

According to the general director of SŽDC Jiří Svoboda, the reconstruction should enable a track speed of 60 km/h. Additionally, it should increase the flow and number of trains dispatched to up to 14 pairs per hour. The signaling and communication technology will also be new.

Furthermore, SŽDC is considering using the space under the arches for commercial and community purposes in the future. However, work on these sections is still being prepared.

The Negrelli Viaduct was put into operation in 1850. The reconstruction of the entire 1110-meter-long viaduct began last summer and is structurally ensured by a consortium of companies including Hochtief, Strabag, and Avers. The viaduct is named after its builder, Alois Negrelli.