Experts from ČVUT will assess whether it is necessary to demolish the Libeň Bridge

Prague - Experts from the Czech Technical University in Prague will assess whether the Libeň Bridge in Prague should be demolished or repaired. The experts are to prepare an assessment and suggest the best solution, said Adam Švejda, spokesperson for the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), today to ČTK. According to a report from two years ago by the Technical Administration of Communications, the Libeň Bridge is in the worst condition of all Prague bridges.
The city has been planning the bridge's repair for several years; in 2006, authorities issued a zoning decision, and three years later, a building permit. Civic associations and the municipality of Prague 7 opposed the possible demolition of the bridge. "Starting the demolition of the bridge and the subsequent expensive reconstruction without top-quality foundations would be amateurish. I believe the assessment will show us that a cheaper and more sensitive solution can be chosen," said Deputy Mayor Petr Dolínek (ČSSD) today.
Among those opposing the original reconstruction plan, which involved widening the bridge and demolishing some of its parts, are the Czech Chamber of Architects and the municipality of Prague 7. The city district claims that it is more appropriate to speak of demolition than of repair. The municipality also disagrees with the widening of the bridge from five to 26 meters.
Since the bridge was put into operation in 1928, its load-bearing structure has never been repaired. Due to its very poor condition, a ban on vehicles heavier than 7.5 tons was imposed in 2009. In addition, the speed of trams was reduced to 20 kilometers per hour, and trams going in opposite directions are not allowed to meet directly on the bridge.
The authors of the Libeň Bridge, which connects Holešovice and Libeň, are architect and cubist Pavel Janák and constructor František Mencl.