Prague will begin the repair of the Libeň Bridge. The first step is preparatory work

Prague - The Prague City Hall will begin the reconstruction of the Libeň Bridge today. The first step will be preparatory work, followed by the construction of a flushing channel and the relocation of engineering networks. Work on repairing the main bridge over the Vltava River is scheduled to begin in 2024. The project includes not only the repair of the bridge over the river but also a complete transformation of the entire bridge complex and its surroundings, including the construction of flood protection measures. The repair, along with other work, will cost approximately 2.18 billion crowns.

The Libeň Bridge is a complex consisting of six bridges and was built according to the design of architect Pavel Janák in 1928. The bridge has never been repaired and is in very poor condition. The consortium of companies responsible for the bridge's repair is led by Metrostav TBR and also includes the parent company Metrostav and design firms SATRA and SHP.

The city will hand over the construction site to the contractor, who will begin bringing in equipment. The first phase will last until 2024 and will involve preparatory work and the construction of the aforementioned flushing channel. In the coming year, the relocation of engineering networks will take place, along with the creation of a temporary bridge. The main phase of repairs, during which the main bridge over the Vltava will be reconstructed, will begin in 2024. The buried arm of the Vltava will be restored. Traffic will be interrupted during the repairs.

The bridge is in a critical state. In 2018, it was temporarily closed to cars and public transport due to this situation. Last year, diagnostics revealed that all arches have the same load capacity as at the time of construction. The previous leadership of Prague considered demolishing the bridge and replacing it with a new structure, but the current city leadership has decided on repairs.