<Písek opened the footbridge after half a year, it is safe</Písek>

Písek – Písek has opened the footbridge over the Otava River, which had been closed since last December because it was necessary to check the technical condition of the load-bearing cables. An expert report from the Klokner Institute's Testing Laboratory at the Czech Technical University in Prague confirmed that the bridge should be safe for at least the next five years. Now, there will be inspections on the footbridge leading from the Portyč housing estate to the 1st of May waterfront twice a year. The city will prepare the construction of a new footbridge. CTK reported this today in a press release from city hall spokesperson Irena Malotová.

The footbridge, which is about 16 years old, is of a similar type to the bridge in Prague's Troja that collapsed on December 2, 2017. The Písek footbridge was closed two and a half years ago. After an inspection, the city reopened it in January 2018. Last December, it was closed again on the advice of experts because it was necessary to carry out tests on the technical condition of the load-bearing cables.

According to Deputy Mayor Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL), fortunately, experts did not find that the load-bearing structure was deeply rusted. Experts recommended installing measuring devices on the footbridge, the data from which will be regularly evaluated.

"By autumn, it will also be necessary to insulate all joints, both between the panels of the bridge deck from the upper side and the side edges, as well as at the anchoring of the railings. It will also be necessary to secure all cavities in the structure against water ingress and condensation," Hladík stated. Within two years, it will be necessary to renew all insulation coatings in parts of the footbridge that are not walked on.

The footbridge has been open in the thirty-thousand city since the end of last week. Experts thoroughly examined the structure. "Especially for seniors from Portyč, getting to the center of Písek after the footbridge was closed was challenging. We are therefore very pleased with the results of the expertise, which gives us assurance that the users of the footbridge are safe," Hladík added.