The metro at Národní třída will not be closed for the entire duration of the center's construction

Prague - The metro station at Národní třída will not be closed for the entire duration of the construction of the multifunctional center in the surrounding area. The construction of the multifunctional building is expected to take about 20 months, and the station will be inaccessible for approximately four months less. Petr Bělovský from Copa centrum Národní, the company preparing the project, said this to journalists today.
    "The station does not need to be closed as soon as the demolition begins. It will probably remain open earlier than the construction is completed," he stated. The developer is currently waiting for the issuance of a building permit, while a permit for the reconstruction of the metro station has already reportedly been granted.
    Many residents of Prague are opposed to the closure of the Národní třída station. They are troubled that one of the busiest stations would be closed merely due to the interests of a single entrepreneur. They organized a petition against the plan, which has already been signed by over 5,500 people. They intend to present the signed sheets to the representatives of Prague 1 on Tuesday. The building authority in Prague 1 will decide whether construction can take place in the vicinity of the metro.
    The Prague Public Transit Company claims that the Národní třída station must be reconstructed regardless of whether construction occurs in the vicinity. For example, the escalators are reportedly long overdue for replacement. Petr Ryboň from Metroprojekt estimated the duration of the metro reconstruction itself at eight to twelve months.
    The Copa centrum, which will be built around the Národní třída station, will feature approximately 17,000 square meters of office space, 12,000 square meters of retail space, and 2,000 square meters of residential units. It will also include an underground parking garage for 250 cars. The company is investing about four billion crowns into the construction.
    During the construction, metro trains will only pass through the station. Trams will operate on the adjacent streets, but the stop on Spálená Street will be moved closer to Karlovo náměstí.
    Upon completion of the construction, passengers will exit the metro into a lobby located on the second underground floor. From there, they will have access either to the shopping center or directly to the street. However, even after the reconstruction, the metro at Národní třída will not be accessible for people with disabilities. According to Ondřej Pečený, the spokesperson for the Prague Public Transit Company, neither an elevator nor other accessibility devices can fit into the current tunnel.