The construction of the Dvorecký Bridge in Prague is complete, and it will be adorned with artistic sculptures

Prague – The construction of the new Dvorecký Bridge in Prague, which is set to connect the Smíchov and Podolí banks of the Vltava River, is complete. The bridge is expected to open in the first quarter of next year, but some finishing touches are still needed, such as its surface, tram tracks with traction, insulation, and accessibility for pedestrians to certain areas. The bridge will be adorned with artistic sculptures and special lamps. Representatives from Prague shared this information with journalists during a bridge inspection today. The construction of the bridge will cost approximately 1.45 billion crowns.

The new bridge will serve public transport, pedestrians, and cyclists, and emergency services will also be able to cross it. According to city management, its main significance lies in providing tram connections between Prague 4 and Prague 5, eliminating the need to travel through the city center. Conversely, car traffic is not anticipated.

"The bridge has already symbolically connected Podolí and Zlíchov," said Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates). The concrete structure of the bridge is already completed. According to him, starting next year, the bridge will relieve other currently overloaded bridges in Prague, as well as drivers, who will gain more space on the Barrandov Bridge after diverting buses to the new bridge.

The bridge is expected to be opened for regular traffic in the first quarter of next year. Construction has gradually faced delays.

Once completed, the bridge will be adorned with dozens of artistic sculptures by Krištof Kintera, which will creatively use light and sound in various ways. About 150 special light lamps are expected to be installed on the bridge, complemented by additional sculptures. One of these is the neocubist sculpture Heavy Head, which is already on site but remains covered.

Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) praised the fact that functionality was considered alongside the aesthetic aspects of the bridge during its construction. "The bridge will be not only an architectural but also an artistic gem," he stated. According to him, Prague is following a trend that is increasingly popular worldwide. Councillor Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09) suggested that the bridge could become another tourist attraction in the metropolis in the future. The capital has already spent about 50 million crowns on the artistic sculptures, but Pospíšil acknowledged that this might not be the final figure.

Upon completion, the bridge is expected to be named either Dvorecký or Anežky České. These two names were recommended by the geographical committee, which leans more toward the name Dvorecký. Hřib, however, prefers the name Anežčin. According to earlier statements by Hřib, the final name could eventually be decided by the citizens of Prague.