Prague is preparing the second phase of repairs to the surface of the Hlávek Bridge, starting in the autumn
The road workers have now completed the first stage of repairs in the direction of Prague 7. The Hlávek Bridge is part of the north-south highway and is in poor condition, so the municipality is preparing to reconstruct it. It is not clear when it will begin.
According to the deputy, the road workers managed to complete the first part of the repairs 30 days earlier than planned in the original work schedule. “They don’t even have to limit any of the lanes to one hour. Such a demanding repair must have been made, so there were no traffic jams and it was coordinated so that the cars always had the full number of two lanes as in normal operation, “said Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr.
TSK together with the city is now preparing a repair of the direction from Holešovice. “We don’t know exactly when it will start, but it will definitely be this fall and end next spring,” Scheinherr said. As in the first part, the surface, drains or drainage of the bridge will be replaced and the layer under the paving blocks will be leveled. “Again, this is planned without lane restrictions,” he said.
A surface formed by paving stones reappears on the bridge. Conservationists opposed the exchange for an asphalt surface, and the work would be technically more complicated. “From a technical point of view, this would require much more intervention in the layers of the bridge below the surface, which would have to be replaced,” added Scheinherr.
Last year, TSK replaced the most damaged transition panels between the individual parts of the courtyard on which trams run. At the same time, Prague is preparing a repair, during which, according to earlier information, which took into account the results of diagnostics proven in 2018 and 2019, it will probably be necessary to demolish part of the bridge near Vltavská.
The listed Hlávkův most composed of several parts is the 13th bridge from the south of Prague and is used for road and tram transport. The reinforced concrete bridge was built in two stages, in the range of 1909 to 1912 and was opened on February 6, 1912. It was extended by another part in the years 1958 to 1962. Since its inception, it has not been renamed.
Prague has long had problems with the condition of bridges. At the beginning of December 2017, the footbridge between Imperial Island and Troy fell. Four people were injured in the accident, and the city opened a new footbridge on the original site. Last year, TSK started the repair of the Barrandov Bridge and the repair of the Libeň Bridge is planned for a longer period of time. The Palacký Bridge is also in poor condition. In addition, the municipality is operating the construction of the Dvorecký Bridge between Podolí and Prague 5, which should start at the beginning of next year. There is also talk of a new Rohan Bridge, which could connect Karlín and Holešovice.