<div>The construction of the forecourt in Pardubice has been stalled for weeks due to frozen ground</div>

Pardubice - Work on the construction of the bus terminal in front of the railway station in Pardubice has been stalled for four weeks due to frost, and according to Deputy Mayor Helena Dvořáčková (ANO), it won't start anytime soon. The ground is still frozen up to half a meter deep, she told ČTK. In order for work to fully restart, it cannot be freezing for 14 days, according to her.

"This morning it was three degrees below zero," the deputy mayor said. Therefore, it is estimated that the workers will not be able to work on the construction for another two weeks, she added.

The project has faced such delays that the city must request an extension of the deadline from the grant provider. According to the deputy mayor, the city will not lose the grant of 108 million crowns, even though it was supposed to settle the investment by June 14, which it will not meet.

The construction company Strabag had a reserve of five weeks in case the work was interrupted by frosty weather, which will soon be exhausted. The completion date and the settlement of the project can be extended by the days when the construction company could not work due to the frost. "We secretly hoped that we wouldn't have to use this clause," the deputy mayor said.

The project, costing 176 million crowns and funded by Swiss grants, faced delays even before it started. The city had to negotiate an extension of the schedule from the end of last year to June.

Work was begun by Strabag at the end of last October. They are constructing a bus terminal with a relaxation area and a fountain, a parking lot, and a bike tower for bicycle parking. The area in front of the station building will also include a statue of railway builder Jan Perner. A path of approximately 20 meters in length will lead to the bronze statue, which is 190 centimeters tall.

The construction company has completed 85 percent of the demolition work and 80 percent of the sewage system, the foundations for traction lines, partially relocated networks, or foundations for the bike tower, said Strabag spokesperson Edita Novotná. "Steel structures for the roof of the stands, terminal, false ceilings are being manufactured, and half of the network installations are completed. Special usage of road I/36 is being prepared. In the quarries, the production of stone curbs and cubes is nearing completion. The city furniture has been produced by 50 percent," she added.