Gallery: New plans for the top of Prague's Wenceslas Square includes tram tracks on the sides

The Prague City Council approved an update of the transformation plans for Wenceslas Square. The new design will allow tram tracks through the upper part of the square and create a pedestrian promenade in the center. The project is now significantly closer to the realization, and work could begin as early as 2022.

The update by the
Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Praha) involves the
design for the upper part of the square, from the National Museum to
the square’s center. The extension of sidewalks, new alleys, a
separate bike lane, and a reduction in parking spaces remain in the
design.

“We will return Wenceslas Square to people, as it was in the 20th century, before people had to retreat to make way for taxi cabs, sausage stalls and nightclubs. By shifting the tram track, we can also create a beautiful pedestrian promenade in the middle of the square. It will also become available for ordinary Prague citizens,” Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Praha sobě), responsible for transplantation, said in a press release.

“The new tram line
itself represents a big step towards stabilizing the Prague tram
network. Alternative routes in the center will allow the development
of further tram lines on the outskirts of Prague,” he
added.

The original
proposal to transform Wenceslas Square dates to 2005. The winning
design was created in collaboration with the Cigler Marani Architects
studio (now Jakub Cigler Architekti) and the DUA Atelier.

In the 2005
design, the tram tracks ran through
the center of the square. Now the tracks
are placed on the sides
of the square, where cars now run. There
will be two one-way routes, minimizing traffic congestion and
leaving more space for pedestrians.

There were no other major modifications to the square’s proposed layout. The number of parking spaces will continue to be reduced, which will allow for significant expansion of pavements.

The new alleys, promenade, and new lanes for cyclists in each direction are among the planned modifications of the upper part of Wenceslas Square. The proposed cycling lanes build on the existing cycling adjustments between the Historical and New buildings of the National Museum.

The changes are backed by the Prague 1 district authorities. “For many years, Wenceslas Square has been blocked by complicated relationships and projects that lay on top of each other.

“The past management of Prague 1 blocked the transformation of Wenceslas Square, and we wanted to reach an agreement with the capital from the beginning. This has now been achieved and I am really happy — we really owe it to all Prague citizens to transform the square,” Prague 1 Mayor Pavel Čižinský said.

The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) has already selected the general designer for the tram tracks’ construction documentation. The designer will coordinate all steps with the authors of the updated square design.

The next step will be to establish a chief project engineer, who will be in charge of the technical coordination with the individual investors and designers. The overall quality of the public space revitalization and the tramway solution will be supervised by IPR Praha.

“I am glad that
after the successful modification of the surroundings of the National
Museum we will now focus on the modification of the upper part of
Wenceslas Square. I believe that the planned modifications will be
appreciated by all visitors and residents of this important place,”
IPR Praha director Ondřej Boháč said.

Part of a tram track
and other infrastructure was built next to the National Museum on
Vinohradská Street during the renovations that ended in October
2018.