Concrete barriers in the streets of Prague will be replaced by granite blocks

Prague - In the streets of Prague, granite blocks made of broken stone will replace the black and yellow concrete barriers. The reason for the exchange of the so-called city blocks is their unsuitable appearance. Once the exact design and placement of the granite blocks receive approval from the police and heritage officials, the city hall will announce a tender for the supply of 50 pieces. This follows from a document created for the city's leadership by the city hall’s security department. The city sets up concrete blocks during holidays, for example, in Wenceslas Square or the Republic Square. In Old Town Square, they are permanent.

"The current material, shape, and color design (of the city blocks) do not meet the requirements for elements placed in the public space of the historic city center," the document states.

The planned granite blocks will measure 50 by 50 by 100 centimeters. The city will have two blocks screwed together. According to the document, they will protect people better than the original ones. Their weight will be about 1300 kilograms. The original city blocks of the same length and weight weighed 520 kilograms.

When exactly the barriers will be replaced is not clear from the document. The city hall must first wait for the opinions of the police and heritage officials. They will evaluate not only their appearance but also their placement.

The previous city leadership approved the principles for placing blocks, according to which the office of the city hall director makes decisions about them. They will automatically be deployed when a second or higher level of terrorist threat is declared. The blocks are primarily to appear in eight locations. The city has acquired 133 blocks, including railings and traffic signs, for 631,225 crowns. The placement of barriers is related to the security situation in the world and attacks in which terrorists drove vehicles into crowds.