<article> <h1>Expert: The method of repairing Charles Bridge is wrong</h1> </article>

Prague - According to some experts, the current method of repairing Charles Bridge is flawed and should be changed. A large amount of water trapped in the bridge, along with salt, will damage the historical masonry. Emeritus rector of the Czech Technical University and unsuccessful candidate for the Senate for the Social Democratic Party Jiří Witzany stated this at today’s meeting of experts at the Charles Bridge Museum. Representatives of the National Heritage Institute and the construction company repairing the bridge disagree with him. The repair of Charles Bridge began last year and will take ten to twelve years to complete.
    "There are tens of hectoliters of water in the bridge; it will take a long time for it to dry out," Witzany said. According to him, the moisture, together with the salt that entered the bridge during winter sidewalk maintenance, will damage the historical masonry for several years. "We cannot proceed in this way; it is a serious elementary mistake," emphasized Witzany. He therefore suggests that the city suspend the repair for several weeks and reassess the entire concept.
    His opponents, however, disagree with his criticism. "The concept currently being implemented is fundamentally correct and cannot be faulted," said Vladimír Křížek from the Union of Engineers. He added that he had discussed this topic with Witzany for several years.
    Josef Šanda from the architecture department of the AAUL agrees with Witzany. He disapproves of the fact that the opponents reject another concept. "It is no longer a matter of professional discussion, but of maintaining their reputation," thinks Šanda.
    The method of repairing Charles Bridge was criticized by the inspection of the Ministry of Culture at the beginning of November. According to them, the current repair has significantly compromised the authenticity of this national cultural monument. The city and the National Heritage Institute reject the critics. "It is not true that there has been any irreversible damage to the bridge," said Ondřej Ševců from the National Heritage Institute, which oversees the repair. He admitted that there had been some masonry errors, but they will be corrected.
    Moreover, according to the inspection, the city and the construction company did not have the necessary permits. Daut Kara, a representative of the construction company Mott MacDonald, admitted that the company violated the law by not notifying the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences about the construction. According to Kara, however, an archaeologist from the National Heritage Institute has been overseeing the construction from the beginning, which he claims is standard practice. Another representative of Mott MacDonald, Vladimír Tvrzník, stated that the company will file a criminal complaint with the heritage inspection for violation of the state control law. He disapproves of the methods used by the inspectors.
    The repair of Charles Bridge began in August last year. The construction workers are laying new insulation and also replacing stones in the bridge’s railing. The progression of the work has been monitored by the Ministry of Culture’s heritage inspection since mid-July.
    The first phase of repairs is expected to be completed by June 2010. This will be followed by the second phase, which will last eight to ten years. The construction workers will focus on repairing the pillars and shells of the bridge during this phase.
    Charles Bridge, along with Prague Castle, is perhaps the most famous landmark of Prague, commissioned by Charles IV. The foundation stone for the bridge's pillars was laid on July 9, 1357. The construction was undertaken by Charles's court architect, Petr Parléř. Under his direction, the entrance tower on the Old Town bank was completed between 1373 and 1380.