Plzeň has begun the renovation of Republic Square for 155 million CZK

PLZEŇ - In Plzeň, the reconstruction of the central Republic Square has begun. The construction, costing 155 million Czech crowns, will be completed in December 2007, when the entire nearly 1.5-hectare asphalt area should be paved with stone cobblestones made from reddish-brown Italian porphyry. The square, which aims to take on the appearance of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, will see the return of summer restaurants, fountains, and benches.
"The construction will not require any traffic restrictions," said Ladislav Kadlec, Deputy of the Investment Department, to ČTK. Only the parking lot in front of the town hall for 50 cars will be abolished; city employees and guests will have to park from next week in a dead-end street along the Church of St. Bartholomew in the middle of the square. Wedding parties, taking place at the town hall over the weekend, will have to park along the curbs from the corner of Roosevelt Street to Dominikánská. Construction will also limit parking on the perimeter road on the western side along the Central Hotel.
The first phase of the renewal of the northern third of the square on the town hall side will cost 43 million and will end on July 15. "It includes drainage of the area, a collector for networks, bringing power from the south side, new sub-base layers, and a technological shaft for a future fountain will be constructed in the corner at Prague Street. An archaeological survey of the drainage and network trenches will be part of it.
A third of the costs for all phases consist of laying the porphyry pavement. Originally, the town hall considered using granite cubes that would remain after the renewal of American Boulevard and French Street. "Porphyry is smoother than rounded cobblestones, easier to walk on, safer, and has the same color," said Deputy Mayor Stanislav Hajný.
The second phase of the renewal of the central third of the area will last until January 2007 and will cost 42 million Czech crowns. In addition to new layers, it includes the demolition of the central roadway and the construction of pillars for vendors. The final southern part will consume 70 million crowns and will be completed by December 2007. The city has not yet decided on the design of three fountains, the construction of which will require an additional 20 to 30 million crowns.