New Railway Bridge at Výton Expected Within Five Years

The Czech Railway Administration (SŽ) is seeking an architect to design the new railway bridge at Výtoň.

While an official project report is yet to be released, construction is expected to take place between 2027 and 2029, with an estimated cost of 3.4 billion CZK, according to SŽ spokesperson Nela Eberl Friebová.

“The future of the Výton bridge is a priority for the Railway Administration, which is why we’re looking for a skilled architect to lead this project,” stated Friebová.

As iDNES reports, the current bridge’s poor condition necessitates single-track operation at a reduced speed of 20 kilometers per hour. To address this, SŽ proposes demolishing the existing bridge and building a new one in its place.

However, this plan has faced criticism from experts and residents who have expressed their concerns through petitions. Additionally, discussions with various organizations, including the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Center, are still ongoing.

Despite these hurdles, the new three-track bridge will significantly improve train capacity and allow for speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, according to the SŽ administration. The project also promises reduced train noise, a new station at Výton, and pedestrian and bicycle paths alongside the bridge.

Preserving the historical significance of the current bridge remains a point of contention. SŽ is actively involved in discussions with ICOMOS International, the technology-oriented branch of UNESCO.

Furthermore, SŽ will be the first Czech organization to undergo the rigorous Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) process for the entire project, explained Friebová. Following these assessments, SŽ, in collaboration with Prague City Hall, will seek a suitable location to relocate the original bridge structure.

This new development comes after SŽ’s unsuccessful attempts since 2010 to remove the cultural monument status of the Vyšehrad railway bridge, which it has managed since 2004.

The original Výton bridge, inaugurated on August 15, 1872, was eventually replaced at the turn of the 20th century by the current bridge spanning the Vltava River.

Experts consider the original bridge structure a significant technological monument and a valuable asset to Prague’s conservation efforts.

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