Topolánek: The memorandum regarding the highway is not legally binding

Winning design for the new look of Wenceslas Square (authors Cigler Marani Architects)

Prague - The memorandum to transfer part of the north-south highway behind the National Museum building is not legally binding, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek (ODS) said at today’s signing of the document for calming the north-south highway by burying part of it underground in the city center. However, politicians are convinced that the construction, which is estimated to cost ten billion crowns, will take place. According to Prague Mayor Pavel Bém (ODS), the work could be completed in 2014, and he also admitted it would cause significant traffic problems.
Today, Topolánek, Bém, Minister of Transport Aleš Řebíček, and Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička signed the memorandum. The project also includes the complete reconstruction of the National Museum. The document also stipulates the construction of an underground connection between the National Museum and the building of the former Federal Assembly.
"The memorandum has no legal force," Topolánek said today, adding that it is a very strong political proclamation and is binding in that sense. However, Prague has experience with government promises that ultimately did not materialize. The government of Miloš Zeman (ČSSD) promised billions of crowns for the Prague metro, but the capital city never received them. According to all indications, Bém does not feel completely certain either. "With a high degree of probability, the project will be implemented," said Bém, who claims he will do everything as mayor to ensure that "the ground is broken" before the year 2010.
Wenceslas Square is also anticipating other changes. "With a certain degree of probability, I can say that tracks will return to Wenceslas Square, but we are discussing whether trams will also return there," Bém stated. The line could be used in case of traffic problems or accidents on Ječná Street.
Although the highway's relocation will reconnect Wenceslas Square, drivers will not be pleased with the construction work. "Such an extraordinarily costly and ambitious construction will bring enormous problems," Bém said. Traffic restrictions are expected between 2011 and 2014, Bém estimated. However, it will be necessary to complete, for example, the northwestern part of the inner ring road between Malovanka and the Pelc-Tyrolka intersection before that.
According to the prime minister, individual projects do not have problems with financing but with the coordination of all constructions. Just the museum renovation is expected to cost 4.5 billion crowns. In addition to relocating the highway and reducing it by two lanes or renovating the museum, collaboration could potentially also include the construction of garages under St. Wenceslas, according to the prime minister.
"Each project is significant in its own right, but together they form a cohesive set of unique measures to create a cultural zone for both the National Museum and the opera," Topolánek said. According to Michal Lukeš, the general director of the National Museum, today’s signing has initiated the most significant cultural endeavor of this century.
According to Bém, there are two to three variants of how the entire relocation of the highway could look. The capital city has been working on the project for four years, according to him. The main discussions are about the length of the tunnel, which should be partially drilled and partially excavated, towards the Nusle Bridge. The highway will lose two lanes in the city center. Instead of the current three in each direction, there will be two. The road's capacity is expected to decrease from the current 85,000 to 50,000 cars per day. Traffic regulation is also expected to relate to the introduction of tolls in the central part of the metropolis, according to Bém.
Experts in the past worked out two options for eliminating the highway in front of the museum. According to one, it would run behind the building at surface level, according to the other in a tunnel. They also explored a subsurface variant.