The protected Hranice viaducts have received the first part of repairs

Hranice (Přerovsko) - The brick section of the protected Hranice viaducts has undergone repairs. The Administration of Railway Transport released approximately 20 million crowns for the first phase of the reconstruction. It plans to proceed with further phases this year. The three railway viaducts near Hranice on the line from Přerov to Lipník nad Bečvou were declared cultural monuments last August after part of them was intended to be demolished by Czech Railways due to their dilapidation.
    "The first phase of the repair of the Hranice viaduct was carried out under the supervision of heritage conservation workers and involved its complete insulation and the rebuilding of weathered cornices and railing posts. The original metal railings were completely removed and sensitively refurbished," said Miroslav Basler, head of the Bridge and Tunnel Administration, to ČTK.
    The track and traction power supply were also demolished on the bridge. "These repairs were the first phase in preserving the protected Hranice viaduct. Further deterioration of the viaduct due to water infiltration has been prevented, and pedestrians walking along the viaduct are no longer at risk from falling pieces of brick from the cornices and icicles from the drainage systems," added Basler.
    According to him, the danger of falling masonry still exists under the individual arches, which should be addressed in the subsequent phases of repairs. "We already have plans for the first three arches this year," the head added.
    The railway ceased operations on the brick section of the Hranice viaducts several years ago. Following the initiation of the corridor construction, the first pillar of the bridge subsided. Although it was propped up in 2004, this repair did not address its overall precarious condition. The railway then considered demolishing the entire brick viaduct, but this met with resistance from residents and representatives of the town of Hranice. Together with conservators, they achieved the inclusion of the viaducts in the list of cultural monuments.
    According to heritage conservators, the Hranice viaducts are a technically demanding and significant structure and belong to the leading railway bridge constructions preserved in their authentic form.
    The viaducts consist of a brick viaduct, built in 1846, which is 448.5 meters long and rests on 32 semi-circular arches. It also includes a stone viaduct from 1873, 426.5 meters long with 32 arches, and a reinforced concrete viaduct from 1939, measuring 434.5 meters and resting on 30 arches.