On Sofia Square in Prague 12, modifications to the inadequate ramps began today

Prague – Today, construction work began on the access ramps in the northern part of Sofia Square in Prague 12. Until now, the ramps had an unsuitable slope, which, according to city hall representatives, was in violation of the decree on barrier-free use of buildings. Part of the square was not approved, and people could not use it. The construction work will cost about 2.76 million crowns. This follows from information on the city hall website, from contractual documents, and from information previously provided by the city hall management to ČTK. The square in Modřany was renovated for about 52 million crowns, with the reconstruction completed in 2020.

"The ramp adjustment will be completed by the end of October, after which approval will take place. Then it will be possible to use the entire space of Sofia Square without restrictions," states the website of the twelfth city district of Prague.

Workers will adjust the ramp that connects the square in the center of Prague 12 with the upper parking lot. The ramp will be divided by a landing, thereby reducing the currently unsuitable slope of the walking surface. The stairs on Modřany Square will also be modified. One staircase will be moved and receive a handrail, while the other will be extended to have a gentler slope.

The construction work is managed by the company TORA CZ. It won the public contract with a bid to complete the work for about 2.28 million crowns excluding VAT. When announcing the tender, the city hall initially estimated the cost of the construction work aimed at correcting the unsuitable slopes of the ramps at 2.5 million crowns excluding VAT. The project documentation for the square reconstruction was prepared by the Architecture studio, and the project modifications were taken care of by Projecticon.

For the reconstruction of Sofia Square, which began in 2019 and was completed a year later, Prague 12 paid about 52 million crowns. The contractor for the construction was the company Gardenline, and the project was authored by the Architecture studio of architect David Kraus.

The unsuitable slopes of the ramps were highlighted in 2021 by, among others, the National Council of Persons with Disabilities of the Czech Republic (NRZP). The deputy mayor of the city district Jiří Fremr (ODS) denied that the city hall management had committed any mistakes in the reconstruction of the square. The author of the project documentation and the construction company also rejected any errors. The investment project has been repeatedly criticized by the opposition in the city council, which previously unsuccessfully attempted to call a recall of mayor Jan Adamec (Pirates) and deputy mayor Fremr. Opposition council members Stanislav Kadeřábek (for ANO), Svatopluk Semecký (KSČM/Citizens of Twelve), and Michal Pinc (ANO) previously labeled the investment as unsuccessful.