The tube over the Svratka River is missing from the study, but it must be there

Brno – The approved update to the principles of spatial development of the South Moravian Region includes the route of the new road 43 through the municipal district of Bystrc. A condition for the so-called Bystrc path is that the road must cross the Svratka River through a tunnel. The Office of the Architect of the City of Brno (KAM) has commissioned three studies on what the Brno section of the road might look like. Two of the three studies lack a tunnel. The authors of the designs, whom ČTK contacted, still believe that their solutions will protect residents from noise.

Deputy Governor Martin Maleček (Mayors for South Moravia), who is responsible for spatial development, stated that the bridge will be covered with a tunnel. "The studies addressed the design of adjacent parks, access to the reservoir, the design of ramps and exits, and so on. Although KAM did not specify the requirement for a tunnel, it is an irreplaceable condition," he said.

The proposal by the Pelčák and Partners architects and HBH Project includes a tunnel. "The bridge is completely covered in a tunnel, through which we aim to achieve maximum suppression of negative noise pollution in the surrounding area. The openings in the tunnel are glazed and serve to relieve the structure as well as to provide daylight. The impact in terms of noise will be minimal," stated Miroslav Juren from the office.

Conversely, the design presented by Pavel Jura and FAST VUT lacks a tunnel. "We addressed noise, but it was not the only criterion. We also dealt with the impact of the construction on the landscape character. We must find a balance between that. Any tunnel solution will significantly interfere with the landscape character, and the view of the Svratka Valley will be greatly affected," architect Pavel Jura stated.

According to him, the tunnel has greater technical demands for connecting tunnels, ventilation, and safety. He presents a variant where a noise-reducing glass barrier will be created along the bridge, tapering at the top. "However, it will not close off the bridge, so there will be no problems with extreme overheating. It is necessary to realize that we are currently planning noise barriers for a bridge that will be built at least in 20 years, and the traffic noise will be lower," Jura added.

The third proposal from the Kynčl Architects and Ossendorf office also does not account for a tunnel in the study for the Office of the Architect of the City of Brno. However, architect Jakub Kynčl noted that a later design does include a glass tunnel. "We made the study for KAM three quarters of a year ago, but now it is clear that a tunnel must be there. And it will protect against noise," Kynčl said.

At the end of August, a twenty-member commission consisting of representatives from the region, the Ministry of Transport, the leadership of the City of Brno, and other members evaluated the conceptual studies. "Experts are now selecting the best elements from the proposals, which will then be combined into one final form. The finalized design of the Brno section will be published in mid-October. We plan to present it at three meetings to the residents of the municipal districts of Bystrc, Bosonohy, and Kníničky," said KAM spokesperson Jana Běhalová.

The creation of the future first-class road 43 leading from the D1 motorway through Brno and further north has been accompanied by decades of disputes. The route through the city is controversial, as opponents argue it will make life difficult for residents in the vicinity. The tunnel is expected to help mitigate the noise pollution from the road.