Prague will not extend the permit for the repair of the Libeň Bridge for now

Prague - The Prague City Hall has suspended the proceedings based on which the permit for the controversial reconstruction of the Libeň Bridge was supposed to be extended. The office will wait for the statement from the Ministry of Culture, which is addressing the proposal to declare the bridge a monument. This is evident from the documents that the city hall published on its website. Until the ministry makes a decision, the city is not allowed to start the repair of the bridge.

The bridge, which connects Holešovice and Libeň, is in a deplorable state, and the city has considered demolishing it. However, this has sparked a wave of dissent among both the lay public and experts. Eventually, the council rejected the demolition and wants to reconstruct the Libeň Bridge. However, the Ministry of Culture has intervened. Until it makes a decision, Prague must treat the bridge as if it were already a cultural monument. The start of work is therefore not in sight.

According to assessments, the Libeň Bridge, which is based on a design by the famous architect Pavel Janák, is in the worst condition of all Prague bridges. The city estimates the cost of repair and expansion at about two billion. In 2009, the authorities issued a building permit. Construction was supposed to begin within two years, otherwise the permit would have expired. However, work never started. The office merely extended the permit repeatedly.

The bridge began to be used in 1928. Since then, its load-bearing structure has never been repaired. Due to its deteriorating condition, traffic on the bridge is restricted.