Workers will begin using a special technique to concrete the pillar of the new Štvanická footbridge in Prague

Prague - Workers will begin tonight in Prague to pour concrete using special techniques for the second to last of five pillars of the new footbridge that will connect Holešovice to Karlín over Štvanický Island. The work is expected to be completed by Friday morning. This was stated today by Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Prague Together). The construction of the footbridge started in January this year and is to be completed within 14 months, that is, in February next year.

The bridge will facilitate the pathway for pedestrians and cyclists to Štvanice Island and will serve as another link between the city districts, which since summer 2015 has also been provided by the HolKa ferry. "Concrete pouring will start tonight using special techniques from the bank. The mixer will be on the bank at Štvanice, and the concrete will be transported to the pillar by a pump. It should be finished by Friday at 6:00," said Scheinherr.

Currently, the formworks are complete, i.e., the provisional supporting structure between Karlín and Štvanický Island, on which segments of the new footbridge will gradually be placed. The formworks will then be removed. The pouring of the foundation for the pillars is completed in the riverbed. In the meantime, prefabricated segments of the footbridge are being poured, which will subsequently be transported to Prague.

Architect Petr Tej told reporters on Wednesday that the footbridge construction is behind schedule. According to Scheinherr, this was the case in May, but the delays have already been caught up. The construction company has created another mold for casting the mentioned segments of the footbridge, which has accelerated the work. "We started building the footbridge in January, and the completion deadline is 14 months, which falls in February 2023, and this deadline will be met. We had a three-month delay in May, but now it has basically been erased," said Scheinherr.

During the construction of the footbridge, workers encountered a different substrate in the river than they expected. "But this does not affect the completion of the construction itself. The rough construction should be completed in September, and the final construction deadline is not at risk," added the deputy mayor.

Together with Prague 8, the city is also preparing the reconstruction of the bike path on the Karlín bank. The path for pedestrians and cyclists will have a new asphalt surface compared to the current state and will be widened.

On the Holešovice bank of the Vltava River, access to the footbridge will be at Bubenské embankment in front of the entrance to the Prague market. In Karlín, it will connect to the bike path leading along the flood barrier on Rohanský embankment. The footbridge will span 38 meters between Karlín and Štvanice and 149 meters between Štvanice and Holešovice.

Currently, people can only get on foot from Karlín to Holešovice via the busy Hlávkův Bridge or by detour through Rohanský Island and Libeň Bridge. They can also use the ferry. Access to Štvanice is only possible from Hlávkův Bridge or by ferry. The footbridge will also serve as a connection for cyclists, linking the main bike paths running along the Vltava on both banks.

In 2020, Prague opened a new footbridge from Císařský Island to Troja. The original one collapsed at the end of 2017. However, Prague has long-standing problems with bridges. The Libeň and Hlávkův Bridges are in poor condition, and Palackého Bridge also requires repairs. The Technical Road Administration is currently repairing the heavily used Barrandov Bridge.