The current councilor for transport, Adam Scheinherr (Prague himself), is therefore working hard to coordinate the entire project system so that they follow each other, even though this is a “very difficult” task. The Technical Communications Administration (TSK) plans all repairs together with other investors during the year.

Although some major reconstructions have an overlap in several years, the municipal company usually chooses the summer months to start the work of major arteries. In addition, Scheinherr claims that in the capital, it takes place throughout the year in such a way that “ideally, the individual events follow and do not exclude individual events”.

Prague traditionally plans traffic closures for the summer. Look where you’re not going

Spokeswoman Barbora Lišková told Pražský deník that TSK was not the only investor in the reconstruction. Traffic restrictions or reductions in pedestrian comfort require the work of a transport company, the Prague Water Management Company, PRE, Pražská plynárenská and a number of other engineering network administrators. That is why (for example in Vinohrady) sidewalks are often dug up.

Councilor Scheinherr: We took advantage of the epidemic

However, dissatisfied citizens may logically ask why Prague was not dug up in previous months, when government restrictions in the fight against coronavirus depopulated the streets and when car traffic decreased significantly. “We took advantage of the epidemic and implemented several large constructions, which were originally directed to the summer months,” the mayor’s deputy Scheinherr wrote to the Prague daily. This applies, for example, to Novovysočanská, Poděbradská or Jungmannova streets or the replacement of concrete slabs on the Hlávkova soumostí bridge bridge at the turn of April and May.

Road and track repairs. Drivers are facing trouble in the east of Prague

“And some other constructions started earlier than originally planned – for example, Novodvorská and Modřanská. Unfortunately, more could not be done. The preparatory work is time-consuming and the personnel capacity of the contracting companies also played a role. Some employees are not citizens of the Czech Republic and did not occur here during the epidemic, “Scheinherr explained.

Many construction companies complained about the outflow of workers during Slovakia, especially from Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania. Many of them stayed with their families in their country, some belonged to a risk group or lacked protective equipment. It should be noted that Ukrainians and other foreigners do not only pursue manual professions in this field, but are a skilled workforce.

Will there be enough manpower from abroad?

At the beginning of June, the media reported that employees from abroad had a problem returning to the Czech Republic and were stuck at home due to the rules of the local governments. “We want to try to keep the people in Ukraine and we will make every effort to do so… There is a lot of work in Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who took office after the political crisis in March, in an interview with RBK-Ukraine.

The emergency situation (ie the national quarantine) in connection with the spread of coronavirus is prolonged in Ukraine until Monday, June 22. The Czech authorities, headed by the Ministry of Health, are also causing some to reduce covid-19 disease.

As part of Modřanská’s repairs, we are also preparing a change of traffic and the creation of a new connection lane for drivers traveling from the Smíchov side over the Barrandov Bridge towards the center. This frequented student deserves adjustments and we plan to complete them by the end of the holidays. #opravyPraha pic.twitter.com/CIXoVy9sYt

– TSK Prague (@TSKPrague) June 12, 2020

So isn’t that a problem for Prague as well? Isn’t there a danger that the capital will welcome potential guests from the Czech Republic mainly with entry bans and that the reconstructions cannot last until the autumn?

“We do not have problems with the implementation of constructions, we negotiate with all our suppliers about their current situation individually, whether it is a possible shortage of employees from abroad or the supply of materials. At the moment, we have not reported any postponement of the completion date or postponement of the completion date of any construction, “Lišková from TSK replied to the Prague daily.

Trams return to Barrandov. “Island” traffic will be more frequent than in the subway