The lighting "lollipops" are set to return to the football stadium in Hradec in December.

Hradec Králové - Lighting poles in the shape of lollipops could return to the under-construction football stadium in Hradec Králové in mid-December. The lighting fixtures have been one of the characteristic landmarks of the hundred-thousand-strong city since their establishment in 1974. The creators of the new stadium decided to reutilize them after repairs and integrate them into the new stadium. The supporting monolithic concrete structures of the stadium's stands are expected to be completed by the end of November, according to magistrate spokesperson Kateřina Rohlíčková.

The city has been building the stadium, costing over 630 million crowns excluding tax, since last year. It is expected to be completed by the end of June 2023 and will have a capacity of 9,300 spectators.

Construction workers took down the lighting poles last September and subsequently started their repair. "During the refurbishment, corroded and damaged parts and components were replaced," said the mayor's deputy for investments, Lukáš Řádek (TOP 09). Workers also added brackets for installing LED floodlights and structures for anchoring the poles. Four cranes are expected to arrive to erect the poles. Until the end of construction, only small safety lights for air traffic will shine on the lollipops, which should fully light up next summer.

As the builders complete the monolithic structure, they have begun to dismantle the tower cranes that have been the dominant feature of the construction site for several months. "In addition to the monoliths, we are also working on the sewage system under the stands, air conditioning distribution in the western stand, roof waterproofing of the stands, and preparing window installation,” said Daniel Novotný, manager of the construction company Strabag. In the vicinity of the arena, builders are constructing water supply, sewage, and road infrastructure.

The stadium has been under construction since last August by a consortium of companies Strabag, Geosan Group, and D&D Elektromont. Due to rising construction material and labor prices, as well as the allocation of additional work, the city and builders agreed in June to increase the price by 59 million crowns and extend the construction deadline by two months.