Designers chosen for new Prague railway bridge amid calls for preservation

The debate over the future of Prague's Vytoň Bridge (also known as the Vyšehrad Railway Bridge) has intensified, with the Czech Railway Administration (Správa železnic) selecting designers for a new three-track bridge to replace the existing structure.

The decision follows plans to replace the current, historically significant bridge, which has been deemed structurally unsound. The design of the new bridge will be completed by Sudop Praha and Top Con Servis at an expected cost of CZK 128.7 million.

The Vytoň Bridge, originally built in 1872 and rebuilt in 1901, is now in a critical state and requires replacement due to ongoing safety concerns. The Czech Railway Administration aims to replace the bridge with a new three-track structure, which would improve railway capacity for suburban traffic.

However, the proposal has sparked fierce opposition from local authorities, preservationists, and cultural organizations. Prague City Hall and local representatives from Prague 1 and Prague 5 have all voiced objections to the plan, with many calling for the existing bridge to be preserved and renovated instead.

One of the key concerns is the visual impact of the new construction, which would alter the iconic appearance of Prague's skyline. The Vytoň Bridge is located within the Prague Monument Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, further complicating the debate.

Designers for the new bridge were selected through a public procurement process to create a structure that meets both engineering requirements and aesthetic considerations. It will retain the existing piers but replace the historic steel construction. One of the major aspects of the project is the inclusion of a third track, which will accommodate increasing suburban rail traffic in the city.

In addition to the new bridge, the project includes the construction of a train station at Vytoň, which will improve accessibility for commuters. The total cost of the project is estimated to reach CZK 3.4 billion, with construction expected to take place between 2026 and 2029.

While the Czech Railway Administration moves forward with the new design, preservationists continue to argue that the current bridge could be repaired rather than replaced. A recent study commissioned by the Vyšehrad Bridge Preservation Foundation suggests that the existing bridge could be restored with minimal disruption to traffic.

The foundation, which includes business leaders and cultural advocates, has gathered evidence from experts on riveted bridge construction, claiming that the bridge can be preserved and reinforced for continued use.

"In a situation where there is an effective option for reconstruction, in our opinion, the option of removing the historic bridge cannot pass through the permitting process," says Jan Havlíček, a spokesman for the Vyšehrad Bridge Preservation Foundation, who also expressed frustration with a lack of engagement from Czech Railways and the Ministry of Culture.

The proposal for the bridge's preservation has garnered support from various organizations, including the National Heritage Institute, who view the bridge as a key piece of Prague’s industrial heritage. The debate has even drawn international attention, with representatives from UNESCO visiting Prague last December to assess the situation.

A potential compromise was revealed last summer, with Prague city councilors approving the possibility of relocating the existing historic bridge about six kilometers upstream, where it would be restored to serve the city's Modřany and Chuchle neighborhoods.