The reconstruction of Wenceslas Square in Prague will cost up to 109 million CZK more

Prague – The reconstruction of the lower part of Wenceslas Square will cost up to 109 million crowns more. Most of the additional funds, specifically 85 million crowns, is intended for the construction of blind tram tracks that the city authorities want to build for future use. The remaining funds will cover the work that the company Hochtief claims beyond the original contract. This follows from the material that will be discussed by the council on Monday. Construction work began last year and was originally expected to cost about 330 million crowns.

According to the document for the councilors, the construction company is requesting about 23 million more from the city due to additional work arising from unforeseen circumstances. For example, the company charged about 8.7 million crowns extra for demolishing concrete structures of the road, 11.8 million for changes to surface treatments, and 4.1 million for adjustments to the collector. Other smaller items were deducted by the company from the original price.

The largest impact on the reconstruction costs is expected to come from the construction of the blind track, for which the city property department wants to allocate an additional 85 million crowns from the budget. The tracks are intended to connect in the future with those planned in the upper part of the square from Vinohradská to Vodičkova Street, where a regular track is to be put into operation first. The municipality is currently negotiating with Prague 1 regarding the tracks in the lower part of the square as well. In case the plan is approved, the city council will make a separate decision about their construction, as stated in the document.

The reconstruction of the part of the square from Můstek to the mouth of Vodičkova Street began last April and, according to the original schedule, is to be completed this year. Its foundation is a project by the architectural office Cigler Marani Architects, which was created back in 2005. Workers are gradually replacing surfaces, and more pedestrian areas are to be added. Some trees in poor condition will be cut down and new ones planted, resulting in more trees than currently exist. The city is also planning a reconstruction of the upper part of the square in the long term.