In Prague, several kilometers of tunnels could be added in the future

Prague - In the future, several kilometers of tunnels could be added in Prague. They should primarily be created as parts of transportation constructions. Several of them will be part of the inner road circuit from Pelc-Tyrolka to Štěrboholy, and others should be located on the Radlická radial and Libeň connection. Construction is expected to start underground this year in Pankrác, where the transport company (DPP) plans to initiate geological surveys for the construction of the new metro line D.

Several tunnels are planned along the ten-kilometer route of the city circuit from Pelc-Tyrolka through Balabenka to Štěrboholy. A section of the circuit, nicknamed Vlasta, will consist of three parts. The first is a 3.2-kilometer-long section from Pelc-Tyrolka to Balabenka, where two tunnels are to be built. The second section between Balabenka and Štěrboholská will have one tunnel, and the third part is the 1.35-kilometer-long Libeň connection, where the tunnel will measure 865 meters.

When and how the city will begin construction of the missing part of the circuit is unclear. The city is financing it from its own resources. Currently, it operates in the section from Pelc-Tyrolka through the Blanka tunnel towards Prague 6 and 5, and the Strahov tunnel and Mrázovka to the Barrandov Bridge and the Southern connection. In the eastern part of the city, it ends at the Štěrboholská radial.

The approximately 5.5-kilometer-long Radlická radial is intended to connect to the Rozvadov connection and link the outer and inner circuits. The plan includes five interchanges and three tunnels. Up to half of the route is expected to run underground. According to preliminary estimates, the radial is projected to cost 14 billion crowns.

Machines will also be working underground in Pankrác. DPP wants to start geological surveys this year. It will cost hundreds of millions of crowns. The survey will begin in Pankrác. The underground spaces created during the survey will subsequently be part of the metro route.

Currently, the longest tunnel in Prague is the Blanka tunnel complex, which consists of three tunnels. Blanka cost about 43 billion crowns, which is roughly ten billion more than initially planned. The tunnel was put into operation in September 2015 and is used daily by over 70,000 cars.