The municipality of Chotíkov near Plzeň must remove the statue from the new footbridge as it distracts drivers

Chotíkov - The Plzeň regional office has ordered the municipality of Chotíkov near Plzeň to remove the statue of St. James from the new footbridge over the busy road from Plzeň to Karlovy Vary. In recent days, the statue has sparked discussions on social media due to distracting drivers passing beneath it. The footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists, costing 33 million crowns, was opened by the municipality a month ago. At the crossing of the arches stands a 2.2-meter high statue of the patron of pilgrims. The regional office decided that the municipality must remove the statue, said the regional spokeswoman Eva Mertlová today. The municipality received the decision today through their databox and is awaiting the construction office's procedures in Kralovice.

"Based on a suggestion from the police, we requested the file from the City Office of Kralovice, and in the review process, its decision allowing the change of plan before completion was revoked," Mertlová stated. The regional office is the superior authority for municipal building offices. Police had previously recommended against placing the statue due to concerns that it would distract passing drivers. The regional directorate then submitted a request to the regional office for a review of the issued permit for the statue's placement. According to CTK, there is no deadline for the statue's removal.

"I have taken note of this, and I have informed my colleagues. The region sent the decision to the Kralovice building office and us for acknowledgment. The building office is taking further steps. We are not relocating the statue, nor do we know of any deadline," said Mayor Eva Hirschfeldová (Citizens FOR Chotíkov) to CTK. According to her, the municipality has a valid building permit. "I don't know how it will develop further," she stated.

The new bridge, eight meters above the road, allows people to safely cross the busy I/20 route and is part of the St. James' Way to Santiago de Compostela. Chotíkov received a 100% grant from the state for it. "We financed the project and mainly the statue. Its design cost 150,000 crowns, and the execution in the same concrete as the bridge then cost 680,000 crowns," the mayor said during the opening. According to her, the municipality fully respected the authorship of the architects and sculptor Jan Hendrych, a former professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, and had no objections.

Opinions on social media suggest that the statue draws the attention of drivers. "We did not expect such a stir," the mayor stated during the opening. According to her, the footbridge will also be equipped with lighting in the railing and two lamps were supposed to illuminate St. James.

The Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) approved the statue with two conditions. "The artwork must be permanently illuminated. The second condition was that the statue would be placed on a trial basis for two months. If it is shown to affect drivers, making them pass through safely and smoothly, it would be removed," said Miroslav Blabol, head of the Plzeň region of ŘSD, a month ago.