Karlovy Vary want to have studies for three parking garages completed by the end of the year

Karlovy Vary – Karlovy Vary want to have architectural studies for the construction of three parking garages completed by the end of the year, which are expected to significantly improve parking in the center of the spa town. These locations include the area near the Art Gallery, in Polská Street, and the site of the former Kattenbeck Services. The method of financing and future operation will likely be decided next year, said Karlovy Vary councilor Petr Bursík to journalists today.

A few years ago, the municipality commissioned a study that proposed up to seven parking garages throughout the city. In addition to the spa center, new garages are also expected to be built in housing estates, where parking options for local residents are similarly limited.

For the three parking garages in the center, the city is now commissioning architectural studies. They will be located in areas that are part of a heritage zone, and there are specific requirements for the appearance of the structures. The studies will cost approximately 2.5 million crowns and should be completed by the end of the year.

"Subsequently, project preparation will start for the next stages. Within the city's leadership, we will then address whether to announce all seven parking garages as one group or to proceed with a piecemeal approach, whereby we first build one facility and then another," Bursík said. The construction will be very costly for a city that has around 48,000 residents. It would cost about one billion crowns. Therefore, the city leadership wants to approach private investors who could participate in the construction or even the future operation.

The lack of parking spaces has been a problem for the regional capital for many years. Issues particularly arise during the International Film Festival, when all parking lots tend to be full and drivers park in non-designated areas. Police addressed over 800 traffic violations at the festival last week. "It is almost a hundred percent increase, so it is evident that Karlovy Vary has significant problems with traffic, and we will focus on this next year because the situation has been unbearable," said Mayor Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová (ANO).