Pardubice begins planning the renovation of Republic Square

Pardubice – The city of Pardubice will start designing the first phase of the Republic Square renovation. The location is the gateway to the city’s heritage conservation area. There will be more trees, a new fountain, and parking around the church will not be possible. The costs will range between 40 to 60 million crowns. This was stated to reporters today by Mayor Jan Nadrchal.

"The goal is to create a modern and friendly space for the residents of the city. We see this as the first phase of the revitalization of the square; it deserves comprehensive restoration. In further phases, it will be necessary to address the traffic situation and the other side of the square at the Grand," said the mayor.

The city has completed an architectural study; residents also contributed to the shape of the square, wishing to address traffic, greenery, and requested the construction of a water feature.

At St. Bartholomew's Church, there are several parking spaces that the city will eliminate. The lawn by the war memorial will not take up as much space, but there will be more planted trees, benches, and a fountain. The entire area will be enlarged for the benefit of pedestrians since buses will not park in the bay but on the road.

"Parking does not belong in the historic center, at least not to such an extent. The water feature will remind of the river that once flowed there," said Nadrchal.

The city has also decided what to do with the underpass, which has been closed since 2016 due to its deteriorating condition. The town hall will seal it and demolish the entrances that protrude to the surface. The area will be repaved.

"In the future, this could function as technical access for engineering infrastructure. Modern trends in transportation prefer grade-separated crossings. The investment in the underpass would be so enormous that this solution is offered as more acceptable," said Nadrchal.

After the opening of the northeastern bypass, traffic in the city center is expected to calm down. A bike path should run through Republic Square, and the pedestrian crossing will be enlarged. "Part of the study is that a twelve-meter pedestrian crossing from Zelená brána to Třída Míru should be created. This goes hand in hand with the planned relocation of trolleybuses from Třída Míru," said Deputy Mayor Jan Hrabal (ANO).

If everything goes according to plan, the renovation of the square should begin in 2025, Hrabal added.