Workers today began transporting parts of the collapsed footbridge for examination

Prague - The construction company that has been pulling the load-bearing structure of the collapsed footbridge out of the Vltava River in Prague's Císařský Island since Friday has today begun transporting some of its parts to the parking lot near the Troja concrete plant, where specialists will examine them. Parts that are unnecessary for the experts are being directly disposed of by workers on the left bank of the river. This was reported to ČTK by the spokesperson of the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK), Barbora Lišková.

Originally, the removal of some designated parts for examination was scheduled to start on Sunday. However, the situation at the site is changing according to the instructions of the police and experts who are overseeing the dismantling. For now, however, workers remain on Císařský Island. After they remove the debris of the footbridge, they will move to the Troja bank.

The footbridge collapsed on Saturday afternoon, injuring four people, two of them seriously. Prague will grant each injured person a gift of 50,000 crowns; compensation will be addressed later. The cause of the collapse is still unknown.

After the collapse of the Troja footbridge, Prague decided to inspect and close some bridges and footbridges, including the footbridge over the Berounka River in Radotín, and repairs will also be made to those on the railway bridge from Podskalí to Smíchov.

The capital city has also initiated a preventive static inspection of the Hlávka Bridge. Measurements started this morning and will last until Sunday afternoon. However, according to Lišková, TSK does not expect any surprising results from it as the last tests were carried out last year. The results of the new measurements will be used for the preparation of project documentation for the repair of the bridge complex and the preparation of a building permit. The reconstruction must also be discussed with heritage conservationists, as the bridges are monumentally protected. However, measurements are complicating traffic. One lane in each direction is closed, causing traffic jams on the main road.