Bratislava opened the reconstructed bridge over the Danube

Bratislava - After more than two years of construction work and partial commissioning, Bratislava today opened the reconstructed Old Bridge over the Danube River. Currently, it can be used by pedestrians and cyclists; trams are expected to start running there probably in the summer.

The contract, worth approximately 70 million euros (1.9 billion CZK), for the complete renovation of one of the five bridges over the Danube in the Slovak capital and the construction of a tram line was awarded in 2013 to a consortium made up of Czech companies Eurovia CS and SMP CZ and the Slovak company Eurovia SK.

"After about 900 days, we are opening the Old Bridge for Bratislava. The commissioning has been completed in a record short time of three months," said Bratislava Mayor Ivo Nesrovnal to reporters. He noted that the project was accompanied by changes and delays, to which the construction companies responded by working three shifts to ensure the project was completed on time. The city received a contribution from European funds for most of the costs associated with the reconstruction of the bridge.

The Old Bridge, which was the only bridge in Bratislava until the early 1970s, was built during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Due to its poor technical condition, it was closed to all vehicles for several years before construction work began.

The bridge, approximately half a kilometer long, connects the center of the Slovak capital with the Petržalka district, which is the largest housing estate in Slovakia. Part of the bridge's restoration included demolishing two pillars and building one new bridge pier, as well as constructing a new bridge structure, sidewalks, and a bike path. Nesrovnal announced the completion of the construction work last December. The commissioning of the tram line has not yet taken place, but according to available information, trams could begin transporting passengers across the bridge in the summer. Unlike in the past, cars will not be able to use the bridge.

At the end of World War II, the bridge was blown up by retreating German forces. Soviet sappers then made temporary repairs to the steel structure. This originally emergency solution represented the only permanent connection between Bratislava and the growing housing estate of Petržalka until 1972.