Kupka should, according to the group of senators, allow the reconstruction of the bridge under Vyšehrad

Prague - Minister of Transport Martin Kupka (ODS) should, according to a group of senators, allow the reconstruction of the railway bridge under Vyšehrad and prevent its further deterioration. This was called for in an open letter by six senators led by Hana Kordová Marvanová from the ODS and TOP 09 party, who informed ČTK about it today. In July, Kupka told ČTK that a decision on the fate of the Prague bridge, which is threatened with demolition and replacement by another structure, would be made before the October parliamentary elections.

According to the senators, the minister should, without further delay, begin taking steps towards repairing the bridge. "It is essential to initiate a new public tender for the reconstruction of the Vyšehrad bridge in such a way that the public interest in protecting cultural heritage is genuinely represented, through the equal participation of experts from the National Heritage Institute," the senators stated.

They consider the bridge to be one of the significant cultural monuments, which they say is also evidenced by the negative stance of the committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the potential demolition of the bridge at Prague's Výtoň. "The committee justified its position by stating that the bridge is an important part of the famous river panorama, which contributes to the exceptional value of the historic core of Prague," the senators noted. According to them, the position of Czech heritage conservation is also in long-term agreement with this opinion.

Kupka conditioned his decision on both UNESCO's stance and the assessment of the impact on cultural heritage, which was agreed upon with the Czech Rail Administration, or consultations with the Ministry of Culture.

"We have familiarized ourselves with the study of the Foundation for the Repair of the Railway Bridge and consider it a reasonable compromise solution that balances the public interests of protecting cultural heritage and capacity transportation," the senators stated, including David Smoljak (STAN), Jan Pirk, Břetislav Rychlík (both from TOP 09), Adéla Sucharda Šípová (from the Pirates), and Martin Krsek (from SEN 21). The foundation proposed last year that the requested third track be located along a narrow structure next to the historical bridge.

The future of the bridge connecting Výtoň with Smíchov has been a topic of discussion for many years. In 2022, the Czech Rail Administration selected a proposal in an international competition that considered replacing the monumentally protected steel structure with a new one on the original pillars. The existing bridge is planned to be moved upstream between Modřany and Velká Chuchle, where it will continue to serve as a footbridge. However, a wave of resistance has arisen against the plan, including local city parts, associations, and heritage organizations.

The Foundation for the Rescue of the Vyšehrad Bridge presented a study last year prepared by an international team, which stated that it is possible to repair the bridge such that the work, including preparation, would take four years, impose minimal operational restrictions, and that the required third track requested by the Czech Rail Administration and Prague could be supplemented with a non-intrusive extension of a narrow platform to the side of the structure. This proposal was also supported by the National Heritage Institute.