The Žďákovský Bridge will undergo a general renovation

Písek - The Žďákovský Bridge in the Písek area is set to undergo a complete renovation next year. The costs should not exceed 400 million crowns. Josef Pešl, the director of the South Bohemian administration of the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD), confirmed this to Deník Právo.
     "We discovered the inadequate condition three years ago. Water was flowing through the bridge joints and the steel parts of the bridge are significantly corroding. The supporting thresholds and bearings, which the unique structure moves on, are in poor condition, and the bridge therefore exerts its entire weight on the structure, which has been leaking," Pešl described the current state of the Žďákovský Bridge to Právo.
     He reminded that the ŘSD had planned the repairs three years ago, but there was a lack of funds. According to him, the activity of South Bohemian MPs helped in saving the bridge. "The bridge is not only an important transport artery of the region but also a valued symbol of Czech architects' and builders' skills. I believe that the actual work, which is expected to last 28 months, will begin in April," said ODS MP Václav Baštýř to Právo.
     The traffic width on the bridge had to be limited to one lane earlier, the speed was reduced, and the load limit was set to a maximum of 13 tons, with a complete closure of the bridge looming.
     The reconstruction includes the remediation of concrete and steel structures, the replacement of bridge joints, the complete removal of the bridge superstructure, and its replacement with a new one. It also includes replacement of insulation, the steel structure of the bridge railing, drainage, lubrication, refurbishment of the bearings, and complete anti-corrosion protection.
     The total sum for the bridge's repair can be specified according to Pešl only after evaluating the completed technical documentation. Currently, the costs for the construction are estimated at approximately 321.69 million crowns and for its preparation at 23.50 million crowns.
     Anyone arriving at Orlík Castle from the direction of Kostelec nad Vltavou will encounter the Žďákovský Bridge, an extraordinary technical monument in terms of its size and structure. The bridge is unique in that it connects both banks of the Orlík Reservoir with a single bridge arch. The structure, which was opened 40 years ago, on April 27, 1967, is the largest arch steel bridge in the Czech Republic. At one time, the Žďákovský Bridge even topped world rankings.
     In 2001, as part of the Bridges 2001 symposium in Brno, the Žďákovský Bridge was awarded the Bridge of the Century award in the category of steel road bridges.
     The bridge got its name from the village of Žďákov near Chrást, which was submerged by the reservoir and ceased to exist.