The builders have completed the foundation of the new Prague Troja footbridge and its pillars

Prague - Builders have completed the foundation of the new Prague Troja footbridge and all five pillars. They are now installing the pillars and building two supports. In June, they will start installing the bridge deck. Project leader Tomáš Záruba, Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) and his deputy Adam Scheinherr (Prague Yours) informed the press today. The footbridge will be finished by the end of this year and will cost 128 million crowns. It is being built by the company SMP CZ.

The original footbridge collapsed on December 2, 2017, injuring four people, two of them seriously. The case is still under investigation by the police.

"The footbridge will be 256 meters long and four meters wide, so it will be possible not only to walk on it, but also to skate or ride a bike. If necessary, an ambulance will also be able to pass through it," said Mayor Hřib.

Builders are currently mounting the installation on the pillars. "We started mounting the pillars on the right bank yesterday. After the installation of the pillars, we will prepare the pre-assembly area on the left bank starting next week, where the main span will be assembled during May, which we will place on the pillars in the Vltava during June," said Záruba. The entire Troja footbridge should be installed by mid-July. "Subsequently, completion work will continue," added Záruba.

Compared to the original collapsed footbridge, the new one will be wider and taller. The original was built using a so-called prestressed construction, where cables are embedded in concrete, for example. The new one will have an arched continuous beam made of steel profile with a pipe diameter of 913 millimeters. "The footbridge is intentionally designed to be easily controllable for any signs of corrosion. The pipe inside will be over-pressurized, so no moisture will enter it and it won't rust in places we can't see," said Scheinherr.

The footbridge can withstand a load of up to 500 kilograms per square meter and can carry a vehicle weighing 3.5 tons. During a flood, there will be no whirlpools created around its pillars. It will also have collapsible railings, allowing water to overflow more efficiently. Builders on both banks have created artificial peninsulas from which they have constructed the pillars. The peninsulas will be removed after the footbridge is completed.

The construction company will provide the City of Prague with a maintenance manual for the footbridge. According to Záruba, it is not expected to require anything special. It will involve standard maintenance such as regular painting and similar tasks. Some parts of the deck will be made of stainless steel, ensuring a longer lifespan. The surface for pedestrians will be made of very hard azobe wood.

At the end of December 2017, a ferry was launched between Císařský Island and Troja, replacing the collapsed footbridge. It will operate until the new footbridge is completed, after which it will be discontinued.