The decision on the railway bridge in Prague should be made by the end of the year

Prague – A decision about the future of the railway bridge over the Vltava River between Prague's Podskalí and Smíchov is expected to be made by the end of this year. During today's meeting of the technical colloquium regarding the bridge, Minister of Transport Martin Kupka told reporters that the bridge has long been in poor condition. Czech Railways (SŽ) recently presented a project according to which only the lower part with the pillars will be retained, and the current riveted structure will be replaced by a new one.

The public has opposed SŽ's plans, and a petition to save the bridge has gathered over 11,000 signatures so far. Prague 5 and the former city leadership also disagree with SŽ's approach. Václav Girsa, President of the Czech National Committee of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), sent an open letter to Kupka today, stating that demolishing the railway bridge under Vyšehrad and replacing it with another one is unacceptable from a heritage conservation perspective and that SŽ's efforts threaten international disgrace.

"In light of the condition of the (railway) bridge, a decision will have to be made this year. At the moment, a study derived from the architectural competition is being finalized, which is also important so that we ultimately have the opportunity to decide what the real prospects are," said Kupka.

According to the minister, it is necessary to carefully assess what the actual possibilities are for the restoration of the heritage-protected bridge. It is also essential to reach the most accurate conclusions regarding the condition of the bridge and its further use for the development of transport infrastructure. "With the development of railway transport, the connection between Smíchov and Výtoně must accommodate a larger volume of trains," said Kupka. He acknowledged that care for the bridge has been inadequate over the past decades.

Due to the assessment of the condition and future of the construction, a colloquium consisting of experts has been established. The colloquium has planned a joint meeting for today and Tuesday. The goal of the colloquium is to capture all substantive arguments concerning the shortest possible limitation of traffic on the bridge.

Former Deputy Mayor of Prague for Transport Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě) told ČTK in recent weeks that, in light of ensuring railway transport in the metropolis, a reconstruction would be the fastest solution. SŽ plans to start work in 2026. If SŽ were to use the already completed documentation from 2020, according to Scheinherr, the repairs could begin up to two years earlier than the construction of a new bridge. SŽ disagreed with this in earlier statements. According to SŽ, the bridge is irreparable due to its poor condition, or repairs would be disproportionately complicated.

The railway bridge at Výtoni was opened in its original form on August 15, 1872. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, it was replaced by the bridge that spans the Vltava River to this day.