The restoration of the unique bridge in Bystrá in the Semily region is nearing completion

Bystrá nad Jizerou - After half a year, the suspension bridge in Bystrá nad Jizerou in the Semily region has returned to its place. From the bank of the Jizera River, where it was being repaired, a crane moved the wooden structure, which is 24 meters long and weighs about 25 tons, back today. However, the work on the self-supporting bridge is not yet finished, said the mayor of Bystrá, Lukáš Nesvadba, to ČTK today.

"The floor and roof still need to be completed," Nesvadba stated. According to him, the restoration of the timber construction should be completed either later this year or in the spring of next year. "It will depend on the weather," said the mayor of the municipality in the foothills of the Krkonoš.

Before the repairs began, the bridge was among the 15 national cultural monuments in the Liberec region that are in a state of emergency. There are only two similar bridges of this type in the entire country, and there probably was none like it in the region in the past. Stone bridges have been typical for the region since the Middle Ages.

The bridge with a saddle roof was built over the Jizera River by a local miller in 1922, along the road from Semily to Jilemnice. In the past, the wooden bridge had not undergone any major renovations and was already in very poor condition. "The carpenters replaced about a third of the wood. Instead of spruce, we used larch, which is more durable," the mayor said. He hopes that without further major repairs, the bridge will last another 100 years.

When the reconstruction is completed, the three-meter wide and five-meter high bridge will be usable not only by pedestrians but also by vehicles. The wooden structure has not allowed traffic for the last four years, as it was no longer safe for that purpose. However, it is likely that only locals will be able to drive across it. "This is due to traffic in the municipality, where the roads are narrow, and it would only cause problems," the mayor had previously told ČTK. Locals currently use a detour route that is about five kilometers long, which is also in poor condition.

The reconstruction of the protected bridge will cost about 4.85 million crowns. The Ministry of Culture has contributed one million crowns to it, while the rest will be paid by the Liberec region. The monument-protected bridge now belongs to the municipality, which is expected to transfer it to the region after the repairs are completed. This should ensure that it will be easier to obtain funds for any future repairs. The current municipality, with 120 residents, has long struggled to secure funding.