In the spring, the construction of the underpass between Žižkov and the main railway station will begin
Currently, the state-owned company is announcing a public tender for construction contractors in the estimated value of 142 million crowns.
“We expect the work to start in May as it will be completed in August 2021,” promises Radka Pistoriusová, a spokeswoman for the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC).
In addition to the extension of the pedestrian tunnel itself, the contract also includes the construction of escalators and an elevator at the new exit on the Žižkov side. An information and orientation system will also serve people there for better navigation. In addition, there will be an adjoining sidewalk leading to Seifertova Street through the newly built administrative center, where it will be possible to turn directly to Winston Churchill Square or the University of Economics (VŠE), or continue further towards Žižkov.
Finally, the work should include the necessary relocation of tracks, as well as engineering networks. New fencing and lighting will also be created. And the whole project will be designed so that in the future it will be possible to extend the station by another platform.
SŽDC is announcing a competition to extend the underpass for the second time in a short time. She first looked for a construction company before the summer, but two months later she canceled the tender again because a single bidder applied. In addition, he demanded a significantly higher amount than the estimated value of the contract.
Which way the underpass under the main station.
At that time, it also included a complete reconstruction of three regional platforms at the main railway station. Currently, therefore, SŽDC has divided the entire project and assumes that this time more applicants will apply.
The shift in the preparations for the completion of the underpass is, of course, welcomed by the City Hall of Prague 3. The local railway line, together with the neighboring highway, forms a poorly accessible barrier that separates the city district from the city center.
In addition, the inhabitants of Prague 3 also have very complicated access to the trains themselves. He has to go around the whole station, which means a delay of about twenty minutes.
The stop can also be moved
“We have been waiting for this connection for several years, if not decades. This will be an excellent solution for the accessibility of the main railway station in Žižkov, “praises the chairman of the representative committee for territorial development in the third city district, Matěj Michalk Žaloudek (Greens). According to him, the town hall is currently working to move the existing Husinecká tram stop closer to Winston Churchill Square. Thanks to this, it will be possible to change from the access road leading from the gas underpass to the tram and continue to Žižkov or Malešice.
In addition to saving time, building an underpass also has security reasons. So far, despite the ban on entry, many people regularly run across the dormitories. Several hundred people gamble in this way every day, shortening their way from the Hlavní nádraží metro station in this way.
Balancing on the curb near the main railway station will end, and Prague is expanding it |
These often include students of the University of Economics, Prague, which is located directly opposite the railway station on the Žižkov side. University spokeswoman Martina Mlynářová also admits this. “We will be happy if the construction of the underpass takes place as soon as possible. Students and staff who walk across the dormitory will have a safer way to school. And for those who do not go there now, the journey will be shortened and simplified, “says spokeswoman Mlynářová.
Zizkov is not the only location from where new pedestrians can get to the station more comfortably. Already last year in mid-November, the capital had a full sidewalk built from 175 centimeters to three meters wide instead of a narrow border along the main road. It allows safe access to the main railway station also from Vinohrady.