Plzeň councilors: The cracked monument Thanks, America! will be replaced by a new one

Plzeň - The leadership of Plzeň prefers to demolish the damaged memorial Thank You, America! in Plzeň, which has deep cracks, and build a completely identical new one. The council approved this unanimously today. According to preliminary estimates, the work would cost around eight million crowns. The mayor of Plzeň, Martin Zrzavecký (ČSSD), and the mayor of the central city district, Radislav Neubauer (ČSSD), told ČTK this. The city council rejected merely repairing the memorial for hundreds of thousands of crowns.
"We are aware of its historical value for the city and its citizens. We agreed that we want to replace both pylons. We do not want to repair them in any way; we do not want to make any additions that would increase safety and stability," said the mayor.
The district received preliminary measurements of the more than twelve-ton granite pylons this week, which restorers and structural engineers conducted at the end of February. The right pylon has a visible crack, while the second pylon closer to Americká Street is in worse condition, reported Plzeňský deník on Wednesday.
"The first meeting was held today, and the office received tasks. We are going the route of constructing new pylons. That is, a new memorial, but with the same parameters, so there will be no architectural competition," said the mayor. The district does not have the funds for the construction. According to the mayor, the city will pay for it after the municipal council's approval. However, the town hall and the district will still have a quality expert opinion prepared, according to Neubauer. "We will also want an exact procedure with costs. I have commissioned the selection of a company, and work has already begun on that," Zrzavecký stated.
For safety reasons, the memorial is already surrounded by metal barriers. According to Zrzavecký, safety around the memorial is a priority. The office is now working to secure the memorial so that it cannot collapse or be further damaged, stated the mayor. The cornerstone of the memorial was laid back in 1990. The granite blocks were donated to the city by a private company.
According to both the mayor and the district mayor, the cracks were known earlier, but no one evaluated them as posing such a risk. "We do not know if it will fall in a week, or in ten years," the mayor stated.
"Given the current load on Klatovská Street (where the memorial stands) from trucks, I decided that we should check the routing of heavy cargo," said deputy mayor Petr Náhlík (KDU-ČSL). According to him, the shaking caused by trucks stopping at the traffic light-controlled intersection at U Práce may also affect the state of the memorial. There is already a discussion at the city's technical office about truck routes through Plzeň, he added. Although the city has eliminated most trucks due to the highway bypass, some still park near the Tesco department store and then drive through the center.
Every year, the main commemorative event of the Freedom Festival is held at the memorial. A decision on an alternative space will be made on Friday. According to the mayor, relocating to the memorial for General Patton revealed last year near the Great Theatre would be a solution. The town hall has already announced that the traditional convoy of historic vehicles will also be missing from this year's celebrations.