Tunnel at Letná will increase the amount of traffic according to the opposition

Prague - The longest Prague tunnel, which will lead from Špejchar in Letná to the Pelc-Tyrolka intersection in Troja, is beginning to be built. However, opinions on its construction are not unanimous. Opposition councilor Jiří Witzany (SNK ED) claims, for example, that upon its completion, traffic intensity within the city will increase. This is disputed by councilor Radovan Šteiner (ODS), who argues that traffic will shift into underground tunnels and residential zones will be protected from it.
"The tunnel will attract both transit traffic, but according to various models, it will also induce more inner-city traffic," Witzany told ČTK. The construction is said to exhaust the city treasury. On the contrary, Šteiner claims it will relieve areas particularly in Letná and Holešovice. "A clear example is Smíchov before and after the opening of the Mrázovka tunnel, which is also part of the city ring," Šteiner explained.
According to the councilor, trucks will be directed to the outer Prague ring road. The inner part, which includes the newly built tunnel, will serve only personal vehicles. Its main goal will also be to connect different parts of the city. A study from the Institute of Traffic Engineering indicates that the number of vehicles will decrease according to specific streets by about one-tenth to three-quarters.
"Preparatory work is currently underway. In Letná, we have started the excavation for the future tunnel portal. In Troja, we are preparing the construction site for the tunnel excavation," said František Polák, spokesperson for the construction company Metrostav, to ČTK. According to Polák, nothing should delay the construction.
The construction is part of the tunnel complex named Blanka, which consists of three sections - Brusnice, Dejvice, and Královská obora. It will measure 5.5 kilometers and is expected to be completed by October 2011. "This large tunnel complex has never been built in Prague, and I believe it is relatively significant even from a European perspective," said the spokesperson. "The tunnel will also be world-class in terms of safety," he added. The entire route is intended to be two lanes in each direction, with three lanes at the intersections.
Blanka forms the northern section of the Prague city ring road. The entire ring is divided into five parts - southern, western, northern, northeastern, and eastern. The southern part comprises the so-called Southern Connector. The western section consists of the Strahov Tunnel, Mrázovka, Zlíchov Tunnel, and segments between them. Both of these sections are completed and serve drivers.
The northeastern part from Balabenka to Pelc-Tyrolka and the eastern part from Štěrboholská radial to Balabenka are not completed. The first will likely run either in a double-decker above Povltavská street or through a tunnel in the natural monument Bílá skála. The second is at the level of technical study and will likely include two tunnels, one in Malešice and the other between Jarov and Vysočanské náměstí.
In addition to the inner ring, an outer ring is being constructed in the capital, which should follow the city boundaries. It is expected to be completed by 2011. Its main task will be to divert part of both passenger and freight vehicles away from the capital. Currently, drivers can only use just under six kilometers of the planned 80.