Žďákovský Bridge is the largest arch steel bridge in the Czech Republic

Prague - The Žďákov Bridge in Písek, an extraordinary technical monument in terms of its dimensions and construction, is encountered by anyone arriving at Orlík Castle from the direction of Kostelec nad Vltavou. The bridge is unique in that it connects both banks of the Orlík Reservoir with a single bridge arch. The structure, which was opened 40 years ago on April 27, 1967, is the largest arch steel bridge in the Czech Republic. At one time, the Žďákov Bridge also dominated world rankings.
    Due to the construction of the dam, which raised the level of the Vltava River by approximately 20 meters, it was necessary to resolve the new crossing of the valley, as the existing bridges were too low. The Žďákov Bridge was built between 1958 and 1967 (with a break from 1960 to 1964). A total of 4116 tons of steel were used for the construction, of which 3100 tons were for the arch. The costs were estimated at 71 million crowns including anti-corrosion protection.
    The bridge got its name from the village of Žďákov near Chrást, which was flooded by the reservoir and ceased to exist. Between the supports, it has a full-section double-joint arch with a span of 379.6 meters, and the total length of the arch is 542.9 meters. The height of the road above the water level of the reservoir is around 50 meters (more than 100 meters to the former riverbed). The architectural design of the bridge was created by the companies Pragoprojekt and Hutní projekt Praha.
    Despite its size, the Žďákov Bridge gives a light impression and has become a dominant feature of the entire central Povltaví. Even during its construction, it was anticipated that, thanks to the beautiful view, it would attract the attention of tourists, and it is also popular among adrenaline enthusiasts of bungee jumping. However, it is also surrounded by a somewhat unfavorable genius loci. It became infamously known in connection with the so-called Orlík murders in the 1990s when a gang used it to drop their victims in barrels to the bottom of the reservoir.
    The bridge is regularly maintained and repaired. During one inspection in 1998, three long cracks were discovered in the bridge's beam. The structure was quickly repaired, and with the help of computer analysis, the cause of the defect was also determined. Water likely froze in the closed stiffeners of the beam, and at the joints where the properties of the steel are significantly altered, the ice then damaged the stiffening. Holes were therefore made in the stiffeners to prevent the situation from occurring again.