Source CTK: The inspection found shortcomings in the repair of Charles Bridge

Prague - The heritage inspection of the Ministry of Culture has discovered violations during the reconstruction of Charles Bridge. According to a ČTK source, concerns were confirmed that during the renovation, some historical stone elements were destroyed and replaced with new ones to a greater extent than necessary. The report containing the inspection's findings was received today by the owner of this national cultural monument, the city of Prague. The city now has five days to raise objections against the results of the inspection.
Former Prague 1 councilman Vladimír Hruška had already criticized the work on the bridge's repair last summer, and the inspection investigated his suspicions that more stones were being replaced during the repair of Charles Bridge than needed. He also claimed that workers were using heavy machinery when dismantling the railings, which damages the stones.
Jan Kněžínek, the director of the city’s heritage department, stated after the inspection began that he would complain about the Ministry's approach. He was bothered by the fact that the inspection was examining a procedure that had been agreed upon by experts.
Daut Kara, a representative of Mott MacDonald, the firm involved in the repairs, also protested Hruška's complaint. He indicated that the stones removed from the bridge would either be returned to their original place or used elsewhere. All of them are numbered and stored in a sheltered warehouse, he stated. Those that cannot be reused are offered to schools or museums, and partly, the city plans to manufacture souvenirs from them. According to Kara, only a negligible amount will end up in the crusher, specifically those that are completely unusable.
The repair of Charles Bridge began last August. The builders are laying new insulation and also replacing stones in the bridge's railing. The inspection of the work's progress has been conducted by the Ministry of Culture's heritage inspection since mid-July.
The first phase of repairs is expected to be completed by the builders in June 2010. This will be followed by a second phase, which will last eight to ten years. During this phase, the builders will focus on repairing the pillars and facades of the bridge.