Heritage protectors in Telč agree that the Třebíč Bridge should be a monument

Třebíč - The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) in Telč agrees that the Bailey Bridge in Třebíč, which serves as a footbridge to the Polanka swimming area, should be declared a cultural monument. The initiative was submitted two months ago by opposition councilor Stanislav Neuman (Třebíč to the Citizens!), as confirmed by the Ministry of Culture to ČTK. However, the Třebíč city hall plans to replace the bridge with a new footbridge and is looking for a contractor for the construction, estimated at around ten million crowns. The construction is set to start in September.

Neuman told ČTK that he submitted the initiative to preserve the unique monument from World War II in Třebíč. The type of bridge used was developed in Great Britain during World War II and afterward served to restore damaged infrastructure. According to Neuman, it is sad that it might disappear just before the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The regional commission for the central register of cultural monuments at the NPÚ office in Telč discussed the bridge this week. "After a relatively lengthy discussion and consideration of all known facts, the commission decided by a majority vote to recommend the bridge from World War II for designation as a cultural monument," it stated in a statement provided to ČTK. Heritage officials emphasized that there are no bridges of the same type left in the Vysočina region, with over 20 in the Czech Republic, but they are continually decreasing.

"One cannot overlook the fact that it has been part of the established panorama of the Jihlava River valley for decades, and together with the river baths, it creates a broader contextual whole. Traces of older colors might suggest that the bridge was even color-coordinated with the paint of the wooden structures of the river baths," the heritage officials stated. The heritage-protected changing rooms of the river baths, designed by architect Bohuslav Fuchs and built in 1933 and 1934, were renovated by the city several years ago with the help of grants totaling over 12 million crowns.

According to the city hall, the reason for building a new footbridge is primarily to ensure safety and protect property. "For several years now, the city has been strengthening its flood protection measures in flood-prone areas; we have reinforced and elevated riverbanks around the existing footbridge at Polanka all the way to the city center, where this measure is complemented by mobile flood barriers that we have stored. One of the conflict points that could cause significant damage during high water is the current footbridge at Polanka, which can withstand a five-year flood. A greater burden on the river could cause a blockage at that point, potentially bringing down the footbridge and overflowing the river, overcoming other flood protection measures," stated Třebíč city hall spokesperson Irini Martakidisová.

According to Neuman, submitting the initiative to the Ministry of Culture means that the city hall cannot manage the object in any way until a decision is made. "The decision of the heritage protection authorities is, of course, respected by the city and will continue to be respected. However, the Ministry of Culture has not yet initiated proceedings to declare the footbridge a cultural monument, so we will wait for its decision," added Martakidisová. According to her, there are plans to demolish the original footbridge only after the new footbridge is built.