In Ostrava, the construction of a new footbridge by architect Pleskot could start in May

Ostrava – In Ostrava, the construction of a new footbridge, designed by architect Josef Pleskot, could begin in May. The city council approved the announcement of a public contract on Tuesday. Interested parties can submit offers until March 14. Zuzana Bajgarová, the Deputy Mayor, told ČTK.

The footbridge intended for pedestrians and cyclists will connect the center of Ostrava with the tourist-attractive area of the Lower Vítkovice Region (DOV), where architect Pleskot has been involved in several projects. "The announced deadline for submitting offers is March 14, and it may be postponed depending on inquiries. The construction could effectively start at the beginning of May and should last six months. That is the initial assumption," said Bajgarová. She added that the construction already has a permit issued since the beginning of January. According to the Deputy Mayor, the city places emphasis on the technical qualifications of the construction contractor, so they should have experience with similar types of construction. The city previously stated that the estimated cost of building the footbridge should be around 60 million crowns excluding VAT.

The bridge connecting the right bank of the Ostravice River with the national cultural monument should allow for quick and safe connections between these two areas and contribute to the further development of the city. The first idea for the bridge emerged as early as 2016. The footbridge will be 550 meters long and four meters wide. It will have an asphalt surface suitable for inline skating. It will lead from the Ostravice River across the railway siding around the wastewater treatment plant and will open next to the entrance to the Great World of Technology on Vítkovická Street. The newly built steel footbridge, suspended on cables, will overcome both obstacles, the Ostravice River and the railway siding.

Architect Pleskot has been involved in the transformation of Lower Vítkovice since 2009. He has designed not only the main buildings such as the multifunctional hall Gong, the new World of Technology, or the interactive technical museum from the former energy center known as U6, but also the current form of the heritage-protected building Heligonka. He is also the author of the design of the Ministry of Agriculture museum located in the area. "Connecting through architecture is my lifelong theme. I consider the beneficial linking of remote places through footbridges and bridges to be the pinnacle of prudent urban planning thinking. When the connection is truly successful and strong, both places benefit from it. I am convinced that the connection between Ostrava and Vítkovice in this location will bring substantial benefits and added value to Ostrava as a whole, as well as joy from unconventional views to sensitive users. The sophisticated, lightweight, suspended steel structure will provide a sense of airiness and will definitely resonate with the spirit of Ostrava," said Pleskot during last year's presentation of the project.