The repair of the steel bridge in Kuks cost nearly six million crowns

Kuks (Trutnov region) - The repair of the 19th-century steel truss bridge over the Elbe River in Kuks in the Trutnov region cost nearly six million crowns. Thanks to the inserted reinforcements, it can now support even twenty-six-ton fire trucks. Representatives from the Hradec Králové region, the municipality, and the construction company that managed the reconstruction informed the journalists about this today during the bridge opening. The repaired bridge serves as the main access from the village to the Baroque hospital in Kuks.

"The bridge was in a state of emergency. Repairs took place from last spring until the end of the year, including during the tourist season. More than 170,000 visitors to the Baroque complex passed over a provisional footbridge placed over the bridge above the workers' heads," said Lukáš Vaníček from the region's press department.

The bridge over the Elbe in Kuks consists of two parts, stone and steel. The vaulted stone part serving as flood protection was repaired in 2014 during the reconstruction of the Baroque hospital. The steel truss structure over the Elbe remained in emergency condition even after the reopening of the restored Baroque complex and was at risk of collapse. The reason was that the steel bridge had no owner.

"For a long time, we were figuring out how to acquire the bridge, which no one claimed, as our property. In the end, we sent it to lost and found in 2012, and as the finder, we were able to repair the bridge," said the mayor of Kuks, Jiří Beran, to reporters.

The historic steel bridge originally from the Holešovice ironworks of Leona Gottlieb Bondy in the 19th century replaced the Baroque bridge from the time of Count Špork. Cars also used to travel on the steel bridge. In 2015, it was declared a cultural monument.

The span of the new supporting structure is 19 meters and the repair costs amounted to 5.9 million crowns. The grant from the Hradec Králové region covered 90 percent of the costs.

The Baroque complex in Kuks was started by František Antonín Špork in 1692. The construction activity peaked around 1710. From the original extensive spa complex, only the hospital with the Church of the Holy Trinity and a crypt has survived. The castle and some other buildings were lost in floods and fire. The world-renowned Braun's sculptural decoration adorns the complex.