The Brno Dobrovského tunnels will be operational for up to 5 years

Brno - The Brno Large City Ring Road will be more than a kilometer longer in five years. The construction of the Dobrovského road tunnels started today, costing more than eight billion crowns. Following the grade-separated intersection at Bauerova-Hlinky, the Dobrovského tunnels are another billion-dollar investment in Brno's transport infrastructure. People will be able to use the tunnels no later than 2011, Jiří Rupp from the Road and Motorway Directorate told reporters today.
The construction, which requires the demolition of about 60 houses, is intended to alleviate traffic primarily in the Královo Pole district. The start of the project was originally postponed to this autumn, as it was unclear where the funding would come from. However, the majority will be covered by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure. The Brno city council will contribute about 400 million. "Money from other sources would delay the start of construction," Rupp believes.
The preparation of the project has also been accompanied by protests from local residents. Inhabitants of the Žabovřesky district complained about inadequate protective measures and the construction itself. "We consider the grade-separated intersection on Královopolská street, which will raise Hradecká street to the level of the second floors of surrounding houses, as a deterrent example of inappropriate solutions," stated Karel Štěpaník from the civic association VMO.
The ombudsman Otakar Motejl also defended the residents. He sent a letter to the ministers of transport and health criticizing the building authorities and hygienists, who he believes have not sufficiently protected residents from excessive noise. "We will regularly monitor the construction," assured Minister of Transport Milan Šimonovský (KDU-ČSL).
This year, 357 million crowns is allocated for the tunnels, and next year about 50 million more. The companies OHL ŽS, Metrostav, and Subterra will receive the funds gradually until 2014, when the entire construction is expected to be completed. The tunnels are expected to be operational from 2011, and according to experts, the construction is one of the most challenging. "There are about eight such projects in the world under these geological conditions," said the director of the Road and Motorway Directorate, Petr Laušman.
The Dobrovského tunnels will connect to intersections in Žabovřesky and the Svitavská radial. The first tube is to be drilled along the axis of Veleslavínova, Dobrovského, and Žabovřeská streets, and the second will be parallel, 60 to 80 meters south, in the extended axis of Pešinova street. The plan also includes two grade-separated intersections.
The Ministry of Transport is preparing further stages of the ring road, such as the construction of a bridge over the Svitava River in the Tomkovo Square and Rokytova street area, or the construction of a tunnel under the Brno locality Akátky. The Brno Large City Ring Road could also be supplemented with another tunnel. Its construction is advocated by the city districts of Židenice and Vinohrady instead of the original proposal, which in the eastern part of the city considered routing the so-called large city ring road through Rokytova and Žarošická streets.