The railway bridge on Výton will be replaced by a new construction and will be moved to a location near the Modřany dam, where it will serve as a footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Railway Administration (SŽ) intends to replace the bridge due to its deteriorating condition, a move that has faced opposition from conservationists, local associations, and town halls.
Despite ongoing disputes about its future, the bridge’s riveted structure from the late 19th and early 20th centuries is a protected historical monument, which means it must be preserved.
A plan has been developed to relocate the bridge so it can remain in use, albeit with a reduced load capacity. The Railroad Administration has already begun an engineering study of sites near the Modřany dam, which identified a better location further downstream.
Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) highlighted that the new site, where an existing ferry operates, is popular and demonstrates a clear demand for a pedestrian link.
Pavel Paidar, director of SŽ’s railway modernization department, confirmed that SŽ is prepared to manage both the bridge’s relocation and the construction of new supports. He also noted that the relocated bridge could be restored to include Art Nouveau elements lost during past electrification.
SŽ is currently seeking designers for the new bridge, with plans scheduled for 2027-2029 and an estimated cost of CZK 3.4 billion.
Conservationists, the Nebourat association, and the Czech National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) have long criticized the replacement plan.