Builders have completed the repair of two pillars of the Barrandov Bridge

Prague – Builders have completed the repair of two pillars of the Barrandov Bridge in Prague. They are currently working on three more, and at one of the pillars in the water, they have begun work below the waterline. All pillars will be fully repaired by the end of November 2021. This was announced today to reporters by the spokesperson for the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK), Barbora Lišková, and representatives of the construction company that is repairing the bridge. The reconstruction of the upper part of the bridge will begin in the spring of 2022 and will last about three years. TSK is also preparing repairs for other bridges, including the Libeň Bridge.

Each of the pillars will be thoroughly examined, assessing not only the condition of the concrete but also the stay cables that ensure the bridge's stability. Specialists will determine whether the cables are rusted and have the necessary load-bearing capacity. After the inspection of the load-bearing elements, they will proceed with the actual restoration of the pillar. If the concrete is in poor condition, it will be removed and restoration materials will be applied to these areas. Finally, a coating will be applied to the pillar.

Work has already been completed on the second and third pillars. Workers have thus moved to the pontoons, from which they are repairing the others. Underwater work began at the fifth pillar about two weeks ago. "It was necessary to remove the original fill below the waterline, which served as protection for the concrete structure. Subsequently, a rough survey of the structure was conducted so that we knew its condition," said Daniel Kováč, the main site manager from Eurovia, today to ČTK.

Workers cannot repair one pillar simultaneously above and below the waterline. The pontoons would block the navigation channel. Once work above the waterline is completed on the fourth pillar, divers will move from the fifth pillar to it, while workers will move to the fifth pillar. Underwater work on pillar number five will conclude in late June or early July. The repairs for each pillar slightly differ. For example, at the third pillar, specialists discovered that the anchors were in poor condition and needed to be completely replaced. This problem does not exist at the fourth pillar.

After the repairs, all pillars will be so-called surface-sealed, making them more resistant to corrosion, prolonging their lifespan, and ensuring the stability of the bridge. However, serious problems have not yet been discovered by the workers.

The upper part of the bridge, which is used by cars, is in worse condition. Stay cables, insulation, or guardrail walls that are in an unsatisfactory state will be replaced. The surfaces of the roadways will be renewed, and TSK will repair areas where there are sidewalks, as well as guardrails and lighting. The goal of the work is to prevent further degradation of the bridge and extend its lifespan by several decades. The surfaces will be closed, and drainage will be improved to prevent water from entering the structure.

TSK will not interrupt traffic during the works. It will only be partially restricted, and three lanes of traffic will be maintained. "The construction will be spread over several years to maintain maximum possible traffic flow. We will work during business hours," said Lišková.

Prague has long-standing problems with its bridges. Regarding other bridges over the Vltava, TSK has already completed diagnostics for most of them. It is currently working on the Čech Bridge, where it is repairing railings and other parts. The repair of the Libeň Bridge is also being prepared, for which a supplier tender has been announced.