Prague's Smetanovo nábřeží is set for modifications and relocations of stops this year

Prague – This year, Prague's Smetana Embankment will undergo construction modifications. The National Theatre tram stop will be removed and relocated closer to Žofín, and a new stop will be created near Karlovy Lázně. Sidewalks will be repaired, and new tree rows will be planted. The embankment will remain passable for cars. Adam Scheinherr, the deputy mayor, stated this in response to a question from ČTK today. Work will begin at the start of April and will last approximately until the end of June. In the past, the city temporarily widened the sidewalk and prohibited car passage from the direction of the theatre. This move was criticized by Prague 1 and the opposition. The embankment is currently passable.

"A new barrier-free stop will be created at Karlovy Lázně, and it will be supplemented by another stop in the opposite direction. Then a new National Theatre stop will be established where there is currently a stop at Žofín for only one direction. Thus, the National Theatre stop in front of Hollar will be removed, where a wider pedestrian promenade will be created, and we will also plant new tree rows," said Scheinherr.

The sidewalk on the river side will also be improved. For example, the sidewalk will be repaired here. "We will continue the work we started last year when we planted ten trees. We will remove unsightly concrete benches and replace them with Prague's furniture. Overall, the entire area will be beautified," said Scheinherr.

According to the deputy mayor, traffic will not be restricted during the construction modifications. Similarly, after the changes are completed, it will still be possible to drive along the embankment from the intersection near the National Theatre to Karlovy Lázně. However, compared to today, drivers will be driving on the tram tracks.

In recent years, the city temporarily closed the embankment from the Legií Bridge to the intersection with the embankment at Divadelní Street. The sidewalk was widened up to the tram stop, and restaurant patios were created there. Drivers had to detour via Divadelní Street. This measure received criticism, for example, from the municipal opposition and the Prague 1 town hall. Currently, the embankment in this area is again passable.