Transportation projects are transforming Prague for the better. The Dvorecký Bridge and the Českomoravská metro station are opening, with more under construction.
Prague is under reconstruction, as evidenced by current transport projects. Among the most significant are the Dvorecký Bridge, the new metro route D, and the tram line on Wenceslas Square. In addition, several road reconstructions are also being prepared, announced the Technical Administration of Communications. Overall, these are investments on the order of several billion crowns.
One of the largest investments attracting attention in the capital is undoubtedly the soon-to-be-completed Dvorecký Bridge. From April 18, it will connect the fourth and fifth city districts. Its construction began four years ago. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it was significantly delayed and became more expensive. The total costs of the bridge, including design, increased from 1.57 billion at the start of construction to the current 1.97 billion crowns. The bridge between Podolí and Zlíchov is intended for public transport, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The bridge will be adorned with dozens of artistic sculptures by Krištof Kintera, which will make use of light and sound in various ways. Additionally, there will be about 150 special light lamps complemented by other sculptures. One of them is, for instance, the neocubist sculpture Heavy Head.
New Metro
Since 2022, a new metro line D has also been under construction in Prague. The approximately one-kilometer section between the Pankrác and Olbrachtova stations, which is already excavated, will now be followed by the second section from Olbrachtova to Nové Dvory.
"During the construction of the new Pankrác station on line D, the contractors excavated a total of 61,160 cubic meters of rock, used 1,156 tons of steel reinforcement, 19,878 cubic meters of sprayed concrete, and more than 13,800 cubic meters of cast concrete for the secondary lining,"
stated DPP spokesperson Daniel Šabík to ČTK.
Furthermore, this line includes plans for the construction of parts of the metro from Nové Dvory to Depo Písnice. This will be followed by the construction of another section between Pankrác and náměstí Míru, and in the future, there are plans to extend the line to náměstí Republiky.
Each station on the metro line D will have a different artistic design, which will be created by various artists. Some stations, like Olbrachtova, will be minimalist, while the design of Pankrác D station will be adapted to the large space.
“The design at Pankrác will be modern. There will be projections and projectors creating sculptures,"
stated Václav Dohnálek, the construction manager of Strabag, to LP-Life.
According to him, Metro D will also be unique in terms of technology. It is expected to be one of the first lines with driverless trains.
“There will be a CBTC system that will automatically control the train, using sensors, so that the train stops at the point where there are openings for the doors in the safety wall on the platform, allowing the doors of the wall and the train to open simultaneously at the same place,"
he added.
Some existing stations are also changing. On Friday, March 20, Českomoravská, which is near the well-known O2 arena, will reopen after a challenging reconstruction.
Trams in the City Center
The construction activity has not spared the city center itself, as evidenced by the construction of the tram line on Wenceslas Square. By June next year, there will also be new sidewalks, a modernized roadway, and an exit from the Muzeum metro station at the House of Food and the central entrance to the vestibule of the Můstek metro station.
The tram line at the Museum will then connect to the modernized route on Legerova Street. It is anticipated that the resumption of operations between Vinohradská and Bělehradská streets will occur in the last quarter of next year. The completion of the modernization of the tram line in Vinohrady near Počernická Street is also expected by the end of next year.
Cable Car to Petřín and Reconstructed Roads
Not only Prague residents, but also other city visitors, will surely welcome the restoration of the cable car service to Petřín. A trial operation with the first passengers is expected to take place here this summer. The transport company suspended the cable car service due to rain in September 2024. The reason was the movement of the Petřín slope and the resulting poor technical condition of the cable car.
The Technical Administration of Roadways is planning the reconstruction of several roads. This will concern streets such as Plzeňská, Kbelská, Ďáblická, Šárecká, and Radlická.
"This year, our most significant project is the reconstruction of Plzeňská, which is continuing for the second year. Precisely because we want to minimize the impact on traffic in Prague, we have divided it into two years together with other city companies,"
stated in a press release by the vice-chairman of the board of directors of Pražské plynárenské Distribuce, Andrej Prno.
Sources: author's article, own inquiry, City of Prague, ČTK
