After years of repairs, the Nusle Bridge will be fully operational today

photo: Lukáš Beran

Prague - Today at noon, the Prague Nusle Bridge will be fully operational, having undergone an extensive renovation over the last six years. As part of the project, the upper surface of the roadway was repaired, waterproofing layers were replaced, and the pavement was repaired. Minor finishing works are expected to be completed by Christmas, but their execution will no longer restrict traffic on the bridge.

The renovation of the Nusle Bridge cost 288 million crowns. This significant transportation structure is expected to last without major repairs for another 20 to 25 years.

The nearly half-kilometer-long bridge over the Nusle Valley was completed in 1973. Before the renovation began in 2011, the bridge suffered from water leakage into the bearing structure's tube. Water also penetrated into the metro's electrical installation spaces, threatening its operation.

As part of the repairs, construction workers first prevented water from penetrating into the bridge's tube. In the next phase, workers removed the central ledge, renovated the upper surface of the roadway, installed new waterproofing layers for the bearing structure, and rebuilt the ledges, equipping them with new street lighting. The pavement was then completely replaced.

The most extensive work was included in the third phase, during which the Technical Administration of Communications renovated the concrete structures on the underside of the bridge, consisting of massive outer supports and four pillars standing 40 meters tall. The lower slab of the tube was also repaired.

A nearly forty-five-year history of the Nusle Bridge is showcased in an exhibition that opened on Tuesday at the Police Museum in Karlov. Among other items, photographs are on display, including footage from a load test involving 66 tanks. Visitors can also learn about architectural competitions to span the Nusle Valley. The exhibition will last until the end of February.