The road workers are inspecting the joints of the dilapidated Libeň Bridge over the Vltava

Prague - Road workers in Prague are currently inspecting a part of the dilapidated Libeň Bridge crossing the Vltava River. An endoscopic inspection of the joints is also taking place on the bridge. The goal is to check their condition. This was stated today by the spokesperson of the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK), Barbora Lišková. The joints ensure the transfer of forces from the bridge structure to the supports and pillars. The reason for the inspection is a defect in the joints that occurred in the section above Rohanský Island, on the so-called flood bridge, which was apparently damaged by frost. This part of the bridge has been completely closed since last Thursday.

The Libeň Bridge is a complex consisting of six bridges and was built according to the design of architect Pavel Janák in 1928. The bridge has never been repaired and is in very poor condition.

"Today we also proceeded to inspect the bridge over the Vltava because it is the same type of construction as the flood bridge," Lišková said.

The results of the inspection of the joints from the bridge over the river, as well as from its other parts, will be presented to the newly established monitoring council composed of designers, experts from the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University in Prague and the Brno University of Technology, representatives of TSK, and the contractor. The council will meet on Monday to evaluate all the information and decide on the next steps. TSK is currently designing a structure that could support the flood bridge. The council will also comment on this.

The road workers identified a defect on the flood bridge during geodetic measurements of the arch structure and monitoring of the joints at the top of the bridge's arch. This concerns a separate arch on Rohanský Island. Experts found that the load-bearing metal plates ensuring the functionality of the entire system are out of their proper position, and there is also crushing of the concrete in the load-bearing elements.

Trams do not run across the bridge in its entire length, and pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles are also prohibited from the flood bridge, which serves as a preventive measure to protect the road from flooding. The bridge over the Vltava is not closed. Pedestrians and cyclists can bypass the closed section via a footbridge to the Dock complex and Štorchova Street via a ramp to the bridge.

Under the leadership of Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO) from 2014 to 2018, the plan was to demolish the Libeň Bridge and replace it with a new structure, but her successors decided on a repair. The consortium of companies that will repair the bridge is led by Metrostav TBR and also includes the parent company Metrostav and design firms SATRA and SHP. According to earlier statements by TSK director Jozef Sinčák, work could begin in spring 2025.