Pardubice will influence the design of the footbridge from Dukla to the train station

Pardubice - Pardubice can still influence the design of the footbridge that will span the railway tracks in a few years and connect the train station with the Dukla housing estate. This was said to ČTK by MP and city councilor Martin Kolovratník (ANO). The first proposal from the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC) did not meet with a positive response from some city councilors.

"At the moment, the footbridge is only in the proposal stage, it is not yet being drawn or designed. It can certainly change in appearance. I do not want to sign off on something that will be ugly," said Kolovratník.

The footbridge will be built by SŽDC, while simultaneously modernizing the Pardubice railway hub. The project for the footbridge, costing 45 million Czech crowns, will be included in European projects, with the city contributing about ten million.

"SŽDC will obtain a building permit this year, and next year they will draft the project. At this moment, it is realistic that construction will begin in 2019 and be completed in 2021 or 2022," Kolovratník said.

Costs may still change; for example, the city will likely negotiate with SŽDC to replace stairs with escalators. According to Kolovratník, this would only increase the project cost by a few million crowns at most.

The design of the footbridge was questioned this week at the council meeting by architect Milan Košař (Pardubáci), who compared it to an industrial footbridge built about 70 years ago. "If this is to represent the face of modern times, I am quite horrified," he stated.

"I am prepared to bring several design variants to the council and discuss with colleagues which will be the most beautiful," Kolovratník said.

The footbridge is set to be located by the train station, opposite the Albert supermarket, and will lead to K Vápence street, which is a short distance from the Dukla housing estate. There is currently no direct connection between the two locations, and people sometimes shorten their journey to the train through the railway tracks.

According to the original design from SŽDC, the footbridge is to be glazed, with a simple shed roof. It will serve the first to fourth platforms.

This week, the councilors prioritized the footbridge because it is cheaper. The proposed underpass would cost between 108 and 144 million crowns.