The Pardubice Bridge Červeňák is awaiting repairs, it has not received heritage protection

Pardubice - The Červeňák Bridge in Pardubice will not become a cultural heritage site, as the Ministry of Culture refused to consider the proposal from the environmental association Protect Trees. The bridge has been closed since the end of 2018 due to poor condition, and the city is preparing its repairs, as reported by ČTK. In the past, the city hall considered demolishing the bridge without replacement or building a new footbridge in its place.

The riveted bridge, with some parts dating back to the 19th century, first served the city, where it became inadequate. Since 1937, it has been used by a railway regiment in its training area in the natural location of Červeňák.

The Protect Trees association was concerned that the city would demolish the bridge. According to them, heritage protection was a way to ensure the bridge's preservation. The Ministry of Culture informed the association after many reminders and months that it would not initiate proceedings to declare the bridge a technical monument. The same applied to the association's proposal to declare the remaining military artifacts, primarily the training pillars, as heritage sites, said Miroslav Seiner from the association to ČTK.

"We consider this decision to be substantively and procedurally dubious, all the more so because the arguments of the Ministry of Culture officials are at times comically absurd. Since the state refuses to protect the bridge and other monuments in Červeňák, all the responsibility now lies with the city as the owner to realize that it must treat these objects as valuable assets of Pardubice," said Seiner.

After years of consideration, the city hall decided to repair the bridge and has been looking for options on how to do so. Ultimately, last year, it rejected the option to increase the load capacity of the bridge to allow ambulances to pass over it if necessary. It will continue to serve only pedestrians and cyclists.

The city is currently completing the tender for the designer. "The basic parameter is to maintain the existing visual appearance of Červeňák, that is, to preserve its historical identity. We want the designer to also focus on maximizing the efficiency of future expenditures," said Deputy Mayor Jan Hrabal (ANO).

The designer will prepare a proposal that retains the existing load-bearing steel structures. The substructure of the bridge will undergo a general repair, as will the load-bearing elements, which will be supplemented by new superstructure construction. The project will also include new bridge accessories and a restraining system, as well as the replacement of unsatisfactory structures and damaged bridge elements.

"An open competition is currently underway, and the designer will have four months to submit the work with the obligation to present the concept solution for the general repair of the bridge to the representatives of the city of Pardubice," said Hrabal.