Participants of the march protested against the construction of the R35 through the Czech Paradise

Troskovice (Semilsko) - Today, about 150 people protested against the planned construction of the R35 expressway through the northern part of the Czech Paradise, by marching from Trosek through Hrubá Skála to Sedmihorky. The participants completed an approximately two-and-a-half-hour march through locations that would be affected by the road construction. This was reported to ČTK by the coordinator of the protest and regional representative of Liberec, Martina Pokorná.
    This was the fifth march held. More than a hundred people always participate, with the first year seeing even triple that number. The organizers aim to show people what changes, impacts, or destruction the road construction would bring, affecting not only natural sites but also villages and tourist areas.
    Environmentalists claim that the construction of the traffic artery would divide the area of the Czech Paradise into two parts. The northern variant of the road would destroy the valley of the Libuňka River and damage the baroque appearance of the landscape. Moreover, the R35 would run close to the rock town of Hrubá Skála, Trosek, and other valuable locations.
    The southern route, which is supported by the Ministry of the Environment and ecological initiatives, runs outside the Protected Landscape Area of the Czech Paradise, while the northern route is advocated by the Liberec region and some other studies. "I believe that the southern route affects valuable areas and villages less," Pokorná said.
    According to Pokorná, the Liberec region has commissioned a study funded by the state, which aims to assess and evaluate a total of three possible routes. It is expected to be completed in the autumn. The best option will then be incorporated into the territorial plan, which must be approved by the regional council. "We would like to have clarity on the route by 2009," she noted.
    The approaching elections are making the battle over the road a political issue as well. “I want to join the people who are commemorating the uniqueness of the Czech Paradise with this march,” said Martin Půta, the mayor of Hrádek and leader of the Mayors for the Liberec region, to ČTK. He participated in the march for the third time this year, bringing along his wife and two small children. "Without cooperation and respecting the opinions and positions of local governments, promoting any variant of the route is impractical," he warned.
    The R35, after the completion of the Hradec Králové - Mohelnice section, should become the northern route connecting Bohemia and Moravia, which would alleviate traffic on the D1 highway. The estimated length of the road is 258 kilometers, with 78 kilometers already completed. The route will become part of the transcontinental road from Hamburg to Istanbul. In the Turnov - Jičín section, three variants are under consideration - super northern, northern, and southern. Construction is set to begin in 2015.

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> Czech Republic to unnecessarily spend 100 billion, mainly on roads, according to environmentalists [28.2.2008]
> The government postponed the R35 construction, as the route of the road is not clear [3.10.2007]
> Environmentalists have objections to the territorial plan of the Pardubice region [1.1.2007]