Prague will not demolish Libeňský Bridge, but will repair it, the councilors decided

Prague - Prague will reconstruct the Libeň Bridge, which will be repaired in its current form. This was decided today by the Prague representatives. The bridge is in a deplorable state, and Prague considered demolishing it. Traffic is restricted on the bridge due to its condition. The representatives approved the repair of the Libeň Bridge as part of the discussion about a petition from citizens for its preservation. It is not yet clear when and for how much the bridge will be repaired. The bridge, which connects Holešovice and Libeň, is based on the design of the famous architect Pavel Janák.
The overwhelming majority of representatives agreed with the reconstruction during the discussion. "Demolishing the Libeň Bridge is nonsensical. Let's not address megalomaniacal projects and support reconstruction," said representative Ondřej Profant (Pirates), for example.
The proposed partial demolition and reconstruction of the bridge were also criticized by representatives Ondřej Mirovský (Green Party) and Petr Štěpánek (Green Party). "The planned expansion is not necessary even due to traffic," Mirovský said. "If we subjected the Charles Bridge to the criteria used to evaluate the Libeň Bridge, we would also conclude that demolition is cheaper. Strict technical evaluation may not always be the best," said Štěpánek.
Nearly 1900 people have signed the petition for the bridge's restoration, making it the second petition for its preservation.
The Technical Road Administration (TSK) has already begun diagnostic work on the two most endangered sections, including the one crossing the Vltava River. "We are doing this to identify what is needed to ensure public transport operates for as long as possible, and to also buy time to create project documentation for the reconstruction," said TSK director Ladislav Pivec.
According to TSK assessments, the Libeň Bridge is in the worst condition of all Prague bridges. The repair and expansion were expected to cost about two billion. In 2009, authorities even issued a building permit, extending its validity four years later. Construction never began.
The Ministry of Culture is currently addressing a proposal to declare the bridge a monument. The current proposal was submitted in January by Adam Scheinherr from the Initiative for Not Demolishing or Expanding the Libeň Bridge. The National Heritage Institute first submitted the proposal back in 2004. However, at that time, the ministry did not declare the bridge a monument, citing that it could not be repaired while preserving its heritage values.
When and how exactly the bridge will be repaired and how much the reconstruction will cost is still unclear. According to Deputy Mayor Petr Dolínek (Social Democrats), the diagnostic work will conclude in a matter of months, and likewise, the most urgent repairs will also take a few months, he said. The actual general reconstruction will then take more time. The method of repair cannot currently be predicted, according to Dolínek, as it will depend on the ministry's decision on whether it will be a monument or not.
Since the bridge was opened in 1928, its load-bearing structure has never been repaired. The authors of the Libeň Bridge, which connects Holešovice and Libeň, are architect Pavel Janák and engineer František Mencl.