New transition on the main road: the Railway Administration wants it, Prague is considering the pros and cons
The idea of establishing a crossing is part of the Railway Administration’s major plans to cultivate and revitalize Central Station.
Part of the great transformation of Prague’s Central Station and the revival of the historic Fanta building, which is currently under reconstruction, is to include a new crossing over the main road. This is the idea of the Railway Administration, which intends to cultivate the roof of the new check-in hall and connect it with the transition to the Fant building. However, the transition must be approved by the city, which is still hesitant.
“We anticipate that we would like to make a new light-controlled pedestrian crossing on the highway, which I believe will be a very strong topic.” stated in Railway News podcast Head of Construction Administration West Petr Hofhanzl. According to him, establishing a transition would be a step in the right direction, and any idea according to him “Will not be well perceived by the public”. So far, the city to which the highway belongs has not clearly come up with the idea. “We know about the intention of the Railway Administration and discuss it with them. We are currently considering pros and cons, “ told the daily Zdopravy.cz Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr.
The idea of establishing a crossing is part of the Railway Administration’s major plans to cultivate and revitalize the station. The repair of the exterior of the Fanta building is currently being completed, and this year they are to start working in the large halls inside. In the following years, there will be a new check-in hall from the 1970s, which was repaired by the Grandi Stazioni company, but it is leaking into the hall and the Railway Administration also wants to change its internal layout.
The use of the roof, where there is parking today, is also to change. The Railway Administration wants to cancel this. “Instead of an asphalt surface, we want to make a park here,” said Hofhanzl. The park is to be complemented by water features and a small commercial such as a bistro or cafe. It is to be accessed by wide stairs, escalators and just a transition from an old building. At the same time, it should be away from the highway “Shaded”.
The interior will undergo a complete transformation. “Let’s change the layout completely. The shops that are in the middle of the hall today will be relocated to the regions, to an area where there are unlimited places today where taxi drivers stand, there are ramps and it is so slick. We could move all the commerce there, “ added Hofhanzl, according to which the hall should be more airy. Today, the intention of the project is complete, it should be rebuilt in the years 2023 to 2026.
Part of the plans to revitalize the main railway station building is to extend the northern underpass in Žižkov, which will be completed this summer. There is to be a new access from the underpass to the halls of the Fanta building. The traffic significance of the Fanta building, which was completed in 1909, declined in 1977, when a new station check-in hall was opened in the direction of Vrchlický sady.
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