Prague planners proposed not to demolish the Libeň Bridge and to build a new one

Prague - The Gremial Council of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) does not recommend that the city hall demolish the Libeň Bridge, but rather to quickly prepare for the construction of a new bridge between Holešovice and Karlín. The reason is the aesthetic and historical value of the Libeň Bridge. This follows from the resolution of the gremial council, which the Czech News Agency (ČTK) has at its disposal. Prague councilors decided that the city would demolish the bridge and build a new one. Some politicians and civic associations opposed this. The bridge is in poor condition. The fate of the bridge will be discussed by the city council today. IPR is a city organization dealing with urban planning.

"There are heightened emotions surrounding the current situation, which greatly hinder the search for a solution with a cool head. Therefore, we are trying to bring a new perspective, a third way, to the debate that would offer a factual solution to the complex situation and allow the dispute to be bridged," said architect Petr Hlaváček on behalf of the gremial council to ČTK.

According to the council, the Libeň Bridge has aesthetic value because it represents avant-garde architecture, as well as historical value; it was opened on the tenth anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. "And ultimately, it holds social value. The bridge is significant for a considerable portion of the capital's residents, who have long expressed their concern for its preservation," states the declaration.

Therefore, the gremial council proposed the construction of a new bridge from Holešovice to Karlín. "Prague, as a city of the 21st century, should be able to realize the construction of a new bridge within three years. It does require a change in the zoning plan, but its approval is in the hands of the city itself. Prague has enough finances, enough experts, and enough officials for the construction," the document states.

According to the council's decision, when constructing the new bridge, the city would hold a competition such that the selected company would have to adhere to a maximum price and construction time to which it would commit. An architectural competition would not be held. The city administration defends this method as a way to save costs.

Since the bridge was put into operation in 1928, its load-bearing structure has never been repaired. The authors of the Libeň Bridge are architect Pavel Janák and constructor František Mencl.