The reconstruction of the bridge in Štěchovice will last until spring due to complications

Štěchovice - The reconstruction of the Dr. Edvard Beneš Bridge in Štěchovice near Prague will extend into next year, and it will be reopened in the spring. The reason for the delay is complications with the relocation of utility networks, which were in worse condition than expected. Problems also arose due to recent floods, the nesting of protected swallows, and incomplete original documentation, said regional road administrator spokesperson Petra Kučerová to ČTK today.

The construction was handed over on April 22 this year, and the costs are reported to be 87.5 million crowns. For the people in Hradištko and other municipalities, the closure of the reinforced concrete bridge over the Vltava has lengthened their journey to nearby Štěchovice by more than 20 kilometers, with the detour leading through Slapy. Rescue services have opened a new emergency station in Hradištko due to the detour.

The condition of the bridge had been poor for a long time, and its repair was necessary. Concrete was falling off, and rebar was visible in places. The closure was announced until further notice, with an initial expectation until the end of the year. Ultimately, the bridge will be closed until spring. According to Kučerová, this is essential. "We understand that this restricts people," she added. The delay was caused by circumstances that could not have been anticipated.

The Dr. Edvard Beneš Bridge, which on May 20, 1939 connected Štěchovice with the opposite Brunšov at the site of a former ferry crossing over the Vltava, was considered a technical marvel at that time. The elegant structure with hollow arches and a suspended deck was built by the construction company of entrepreneur Karel Kindl, starting in August 1937, and was completed in a year and three-quarters. The design, which still impresses with the grace of its 114-meter-long arch, was created by architect Miloslav Klement. At the end of World War II, the bridge narrowly escaped destruction. The Germans were preparing to blow it up, but the holes for the charges remained empty. The bridge also survived the devastating floods in 2002.