Countries have called for the urgent repair of the Branický and Výtoňský bridges in Prague.

Prague - Representatives of the Central Bohemian Region, the capital city, regional transport organizers, and carriers today signed a call to the Railway Administration (SŽ) and the Ministry of Transport to not postpone the repair of the Prague Branický Bridge and simultaneously to initiate the repair or reconstruction of the railway bridge at Výtoň. During the closures of both bridges, there is a risk of a collapse of both passenger and freight railway transport to the southwest of Prague. Representatives from all parties involved told journalists this. SŽ stated that it is preparing for the repair of the Branický Bridge and that one of the criteria in the tender will be the length of operational disruptions. For the bridge at Výtoň, they will try to keep it operational for as long as possible until a final solution is found and not restrict operations.

SŽ has already announced a tender for the expansion of the Branický Bridge. Construction is expected to start in July this year, and the work will take 13 months. Costs are expected to reach 2.25 billion crowns. For the bridge at Výtoň, SŽ has announced an architectural competition, in which the proposal that plans to preserve only the pillars of the bridge while replacing the riveted structure with a new construction was successful. There is opposition from some members of the public, Prague 5, and the mayor's deputy Adam Scheinherr (Prague Together).

"We demand from SŽ and the ministry that the repair of the Branický Bridge is not postponed and is given top priority to be completed by the end of this year. We are concerned about delaying the risk that there will be overlaps in closures on both the Branický and Výtoň bridges," said Central Bohemian Councilor Petr Borecký (STAN). According to him, it is not necessary to immediately complete the planned second track, but that if it is completed, at least one track remains operational.

The signatories of the call are requesting Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) to use his powers and prioritize the repair of the bridge. They consider the repair of the Branický Bridge and the adjacent sections of tracks as essential, so that work requiring the cessation of operations on the bridge ends no later than the end of this year.

In the case of the bridge at Výtoň, SŽ is planning to reduce the maximum allowed speed from 60 to 20 kilometers per hour and to prohibit trains from meeting on the bridge due to its state. According to Václav Haase from the Prague city organization Ropid, which plans Prague's public transportation, this will decrease the bridge's capacity by up to half. He also stated that if the repair of the detour route, that is, the Branický Bridge, is delayed, there is a risk that operations on both bridges will be closed. "And we won't be able to get from one bank to the other," he said.

In the event of the closure of both bridges, freight transport, which primarily travels over the Branický Bridge, would also be affected. If trains cannot operate over the bridges, they would face long detours via Ústí nad Labem or České Budějovice. According to Martin Hořínka from the Association of Railway Freight Carriers of the Czech Republic (ŽESNAD.CZ), this would increase the costs of transporting goods by rail to the point that they would be transferred to trucks.

Regarding the seriousness of the situation and the poor condition of the railway bridge at Výtoň, SŽ, according to its spokesperson Nela Eberl Friebová, has long been warning. "Our goal is to keep the bridge operating at maximally possible parameters without endangering the safety of the bridge or passengers. And to do so ideally until the implementation of a new solution," she stated. She mentioned that the commencement of work on the Branický Bridge is still scheduled for July. "The main benefit will be double-tracking and increased capacity. One of the significant criteria for evaluating bids will also be the shortest possible duration of complete traffic cessation on the bridge. Construction should start in July, with the actual disruptions then in October," she added.