Prague will initiate another arbitration proceeding over millions due to the Blanka tunnel

Prague - The capital city of Prague will initiate another conciliation proceeding regarding the Blanka tunnel complex. The disputes, which may escalate to arbitration, will involve the companies Pudis, Metroprojekt, Inset, and Mott MacDonald CZ. According to information from ČTK, this was decided today by the dissolved Prague council. The companies that provided project work during the construction are demanding millions of crowns from the city beyond the original contracts.

The problematic road construction opened this September after several delays. It cost 43 billion crowns, roughly ten billion more than was originally planned.

In the current dispute, the four project companies argue that their costs have increased due to delays in completing the Blanka tunnel. Pudis is requesting an additional 17 million for project activities, Metroprojekt 9.5 million, Inset seeks 33 million for geomonitoring, and Mott MacDonald CZ, along with architectural office Romana Kouckého, is asking for 7.2 million for activities related to the Troja Bridge, according to unpublished documents.

In the past, two arbitrations have already taken place regarding Blanka, with the construction company Metrostav over billion-crown amounts, and with the company IDS over hundreds of millions. In both cases, the court favored the companies. Another arbitration is approaching with the technology supplier, ČKD Praha DIZ.

On average, about 60,000 cars pass through the six-kilometer tunnel complex each day. Traffic worsened after the tunnel's opening in Dejvice and Břevnov and on the approach from Strakonice. According to data from November, more than 4.3 million cars have passed through Blanka since its opening. Prague is preparing a continuation along the Povltavská street route.