Prague moved a step closer to opening its long-awaited Dvorecký Bridge this week, as the first tram crossed the structure linking Smíchov and Podolí.

The test run marks one of the final steps before the bridge begins serving passengers in mid-April.

Early Wednesday morning, a distinctive orange measuring tram, car No. 5521 — known among transport enthusiasts as “Pomeranč” — rolled onto the newly completed tracks. The vehicle is used to inspect new or modernized tram lines before regular service begins.

According to Daniel Šabík, spokesman for the Prague Public Transit Company, the tram tested the newly installed overhead wires and electrically operated switches. Such runs are required before contractors can issue final inspection reports and certify a line for operation.

The measuring car checks the height and alignment of overhead wires, the geometry of the tracks, and the behavior of the traction network during movement. Engineers monitor the system’s response in real time to detect any weaknesses before public transport is introduced.

The bridge itself has already undergone heavy load testing. In mid-January, eight fully loaded trucks carrying a combined weight of 256 tons drove onto the structure. City officials said the bridge met all expectations during the trials, clearing the way for tram testing.

Construction began in September 2022 and took nearly four years to complete, exceeding the original estimate of two and a half years. The 361.4-meter bridge stands on five pillars and is designed exclusively for trams, buses, cyclists and pedestrians. Private cars will not be permitted.

Once open, the bridge will carry two tram lines and bus connections, creating a new public transport corridor between Prague 5 and Prague 4. In the future, it is expected to become part of a broader tram circuit extending along Jeremenkova Street toward Budějovická.

The project’s cost has also grown. In 2021, the city estimated expenses at 972 million crowns. The latest figure presented by the municipality stands at 1.9 billion crowns, roughly double the original projection.

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