Prague plans major reconstruction of divisive highway through city center

Prague is preparing a significant reconstruction of its main north-south highway (known locally as Magistrála, which translates as highway) from the National Museum to the Nusle Bridge in the city's New Town neighborhood. The project is set to improve pedestrian and cyclist spaces while maintaining vehicle traffic flow.

In addition to this, nearby Ječná Street, a vital connection between I.P. Pavlova and Karlovo Náměstí, will also undergo a significant redesign. The whole project is expected to last several years, with completion anticipated within five to seven years.

The proposal introduces features designed to enhance safety and accessibility, such as new pedestrian crossings, 120 new trees, and dedicated bike lanes. The city's goal is to transform the space into a more balanced urban environment without impeding the essential flow of traffic.

According to project manager Lucie Kočišová from the Technical Road Administration, while the street will be made more pedestrian-friendly, traffic capacity for cars will remain largely unaffected.

Both the north (Legerova Street) and south (Sokolská Street) lanes of the highway will be renovated. Three lanes will be preserved for automobiles, with some areas, like around Fügnerovo Square, narrowing to two lanes without causing major traffic disruptions.

"We are not harming traffic capacity," Kočišová told journalists when presenting the first designs for the project on Thursday. "If everything goes according to schedule, we should have everything implemented within five to seven years."

In conjunction with the motorway reconstruction, nearby Ječná Street will also see a major facelift. This street, already slated for tram infrastructure improvements by the city’s transportation authority, will benefit from a complete redesign of its tree-lined avenues.

Tram stops will be repositioned and expanded for better accessibility, and safety for pedestrians will be bolstered. The work will be synchronized with planned infrastructure upgrades by the Prague Water Management Company, which will replace essential pipelines.

This is part of a larger plan to create a more cohesive and environmentally-friendly transport network. The timeline for these improvements hinges on the completion of the tram line project on Wenceslas Square.

While the city is confident that these upgrades will enhance the quality of urban life, the project has attracted some criticism. Ondřej Prokop, leader of the Prague branch of the ANO party, has expressed concerns that these changes could create a "city bottleneck," potentially worsening traffic congestion rather than alleviating it.

Prague Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib, meanwhile, argues that the planned changes align with current traffic data, which suggest that the majority of cars traveling through the city center start or end their journeys on the Magistrála, making the proposed changes necessary.

Redevelopment of the 1970s-era motorway design has long been discussed, with most agreeing that the main artery through Prague is outdated. Past proposals, such as those by Danish architect Jan Gehl, had suggested similar improvements, but those were never implemented.