Traffic restrictions in Prague: Where will you not drive in the autumn?
Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) spoke about the traffic situation after the holidays directly at the reconstruction of the tram line on Nábřeží Edvard Beneš. He pointed out that there are still more and more cars in Prague and that road repairs are necessary. “There are a third more of them here in the last ten years, and even half more in the last 20 years. The load on the road is enormous, “ he noted. Every year, repairs are concentrated as much as possible in the summer months, when there are fewer people in Prague, but some work will continue in September.
Adam Scheinherr, Prague’s deputy for transport, also thinks that reconstructions are needed. “When we took over transport in Prague, according to the plan for sustainable mobility in Prague, the debt on infrastructure was 30 billion. We have to fix it, otherwise it can’t be done. “ he said. According to him, the city invests over six billion crowns every year, and this debt in investments in transport is managed to be reduced by one billion each year. According to the deputy, TSK has 45 significant constructions planned this year, which is five more than last year.
Investments up to 1.8 million
According to TSK, 62 construction projects must be completed by the end of August, over 40 of which are still ongoing and no another sixteen should begin in the coming months. Repairs took place, for example, on Plzeňská and Podbělohorská streets, and one of the last stages of the reconstruction of the Štěrboholská junction took place. Work in progress on Charles Square or the reconstruction of Prosecká, Hradešínská or Koněvova streets, among others. In addition to the parking lot in Hostivař the repair of Hornoměcholupská, Veselská or Tupolevova streets will start by the end of the year. TSK has invested in communication last year 1.3 million crowns, this year it would have to be 1.8 billion crowns. “If all the events can be completed, it will be two billion,” said Josef Sinčák, the company’s director
It is necessary to achieve as much as possible
According to Scheinherr, it is It is important to prepare for next year, when the reconstruction of the Barrandov Bridge is to begin, and that is why it is appropriate to fix it as much as possible this year.. “We are now in the second half of the construction season, it will take place until the end of November, but the most important events have already taken place during the summer,” he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, the reconstruction of the Edvard Beneš Embankment is an example of how city organizations such as TSK or Dopravní podnik hl. cities (DPP), communicate and coordinate projects. “Two years ago, when a transport company came up with the idea that the tram line needed to be reconstructed, we said, let’s take it straight, including the road,” he added.
According to him, it will be possible to coordinate the work of TSK, which is working on road repairs, and DPP on the tram line. “We have dozens of such coordination around the city, “ he pointed out. In addition, a number of projects have to be coordinated by other organizations, such as Pražská teplárenská and others.
Closures and planned road reconstructions in Prague
DPP director Petr Witowski added that several important reconstructions of tram lines took place this year, for example in Spálená Street or Palackého náměstí. “Prague and the transport company put just under half a billion crowns on the tram lines, another 1.8 million went to the metro,” he added. This week, for example, the reconstruction of the Jiřího z Poděbrad station begins. According to him, he is also successfully coordinating events not only with TSK, for example during the reconstruction of the bridge in Divadelní Street, which he uses as an opportunity to reconstruct the line in Spálená. “We try not to face the remarks that something will dig up somewhere and in 14 days someone else will start digging there., “He added.
According to TSK director Josef Sinčák, work coordination also works. “It’s not an easy task, but I am convinced that it is as successful as possible to plan constructions so that the impact on the surroundings is minimal,” he said. He described the planned reconstruction of the Libeň Bridge, which has been under preparation for years, as one of the challenges for the future. “We expect to submit bids in a week,” he added. According to him, one of the biggest coordination will be achieved during the reconstruction of Kutnohorská Street, which intersects several city districts.
Is another coordinator needed?
The opposition ODS recently criticized the fact that drivers around Prague currently have to face dozens of traffic deadlines, criticizing the lack of coordination of these events. “Illogically planned road closures, a senselessly dug-up city and wasted driver time in the columns, the result of the lack of interest of the Prague mayor Hřib and his deputy for labor transport is the coordinated planning and communication with all the organizations concerned, “says Alexandra Udženija. At the meeting of the council, the ODS wants to propose the creation of the position of coordinator of closures and construction planning.
According to Adam Scheinherr jThe director of the Department of Roads and Railways at the Prague City Hall successfully works as a coordinator Aleš Krejča, whom he also introduced at the press conference. “There can be no other coordinator,” he said. According to the deputy, all projects meet him, due to which he is able to coordinate the actions of not only city investors.
Aleš Krejča noted that The work of his team is to keep detours and alternative routes as passable as possible in the event of closures and no further restrictions arose on them. However, he pointed out that some events last the entire construction season and it may happen that even these routes may be limited in the short term by, for example, an accident or a shorter repair.
Significant constructions where, according to TSK, there will be traffic restrictions in the following months:
Veselská – Work should take place from September 6 to October 31. The direction to the center should be closed by 1 October and the direction from the center in the second phase of construction. It will also take place in Letňany from October to the end of November maintenance of Tupolevova street, where both lanes are gradually repaired.
Dolnoměcholupská – from September 9 traffic will be partially restricted due to the construction of the P + R car park. The road in the section U Pekáren – Poslední will also be closed. The construction of the car park should be completed by the end of the year.
May 5 – partial closures will be from September 6 until January next year due to modifications to the vertical road markings.
Smetana embankment – due to tree planting, the passage on the sidewalk will be partially restricted during, the expected start is September / October. The right lane closure is designed.
To Žižkov – During October and November, the road between Českomoravská and Sazka will be repaired. The street remains passable in both directions. There will also be a new bus stop, which will be moved here from Freyova Street.
Karlovarská – during October and November the road will be maintained, one lane will always be closed.
Argentine – during October, maintenance should begin gradually in both directions.
At the Health Institute – the road maintenance is carried out gradually in both directions. It is expected to start during September or October and end at the end of November.
Athletic – A full closure is expected from 20 September to the end of November.
Schoeller – From 20 September to November, a full closure is foreseen for road maintenance.
Žalovská – from September 20 to the end of November, the road and sidewalks will be repaired. Entry will be restricted to all traffic except for vehicles of the integrated rescue system and local residents.
Traffic collapse due to repairs of the Štěrboholská spojka. (July 13, 2021) Police of the Czech Republic
Reconstruction of the tram line on the Edvard Beneš Embankment (August 31, 2021)
Author: CNC / Jan Zázvorka