Praha will have a study prepared for the repair of the Libeň Bridge

Prague - The Prague City Hall will have a study prepared for the repair of the Libeň Bridge. It should be completed by February next year. Based on it, the city management will decide on the method of repair. This was stated to journalists today by Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Prague for Themselves). As part of the repairs, the city also wants to transform the surroundings at its mouth in Libeň and Holešovice. In the past, the city planned to demolish it, but the new leadership of Prague rejects this. The Libeň Bridge, built in 1928, is in a state of emergency and has never been repaired.

The Libeň Bridge consists of six structures that connect with each other. In addition to the historic bridge over the Vltava River, there are bridges on the Libeň side, including the so-called inundation bridge, which serves as flood protection and under which water flows during floods. The outer parts of the complex had to be supported in the past.

The document will focus mainly on the historically valuable bridge over the Vltava. The study should recommend, for example, whether the inner arched strips will need to be demolished or if they will remain preserved. "These two options will (the study) compare in terms of the load capacity of the bridge, lifespan, and in terms of the costs of reconstruction. Based on that, the council will decide," Scheinherr said.

The Technical Administration of Communications (TSK) will also begin repairs for which the bridge does not need to be closed and traffic restricted. For example, repairs will start on stairways, pillars, lighting, or railings. According to Scheinherr, the goal is to stop further deterioration of the bridge.

In parallel with the repairs, the city will organize a workshop that will address the transformation of the foreland on both banks of the Vltava. Issues such as transportation at Palmovka or flood protection will be discussed.

Prague has been facing problems with bridges for a long time. The city recently had load tests conducted on the Legion Bridge and is working on the diagnostics of the Hlávka Bridge, which is also in poor condition. "Diagnostics of the Palacky Bridge and Barrandov Bridge is being prepared, so all these bridges will undergo reconstruction once we have specific data and findings from these studies," Scheinherr told ČTK.

The construction of new bridges is also planned, including the Rohanský between Prague 7 and 8 and the Dvorecký between Smíchov and Podolí. In the case of the Dvorecký Bridge, the councilors will approve the assignment for the preparation of documentation for zoning decision at the December meeting.

The Libeň Bridge from 1928 is in poor condition. Politicians have argued in the past about whether to demolish it or reconstruct it. In January of this year, it had to be closed to cars and public transport for about a month and was subsequently supported. The fate of the bridge has also been addressed by the Ministry of Culture in the past, but it did not declare it a cultural monument.