Passengers will travel through the tram tunnel in Žabovřeská Street in Brno in April

Brno - The tram tunnel along Žabovřeská street in Brno is set to open to passengers next April, directors of the Brno branch of the Directorate of Roads and Highways David Fiala and the general director of the Brno transport company Miloš Havránek told journalists at the construction site of the major city ring road today. The delay of approximately three months compared to the original plan is due in part to changes in the tunnel's security systems. However, this should not jeopardize the overall completion date of the construction, and the new four-lane road is expected to open at the end of 2024.

"Despite the delay, April is a good timeline. People have learned to use substitute transport, and we look forward to meeting passengers here in April," said Havránek. The main line 1 from Pisárky to Komín has not operated since early last year. "We have started to consider reaching out to the public before putting it into operation, and that on the opening day, our passengers who sign up will be the first to ride. We might dispatch two or three trams, and then we will go ourselves," Havránek added.

The opening of the tunnel will provide operational relief for the company and passengers. Currently, a large part of the traffic load is directed through Žabovřesky and Česká, and the company has to combine trains in various ways to meet passenger demand. Additionally, after more than two years, the journey from Komín to Mendlovo náměstí will be significantly simplified.

In the road construction, a road gallery is currently being built where the current traffic will be diverted so that the new road can be constructed on the site of the existing one and partly over the river. Retaining walls under the rock have already been completed, and road workers continue to monitor the slope, drilling and reinforcing it in certain places.

The rising prices of energy and materials are addressed in the contract with an inflation clause for the multi-year project. "For each year, we pay companies an amount corresponding to the inflation rate. For last year, we paid an additional 11 million crowns. This year, it will of course be more," said Fiala.

With the opening of the new capacity road, the current situation should improve, where a four-lane road connects from each side, and queues form before the two-lane section not only during peak traffic hours.