The Railway Administration (Správa železnic) has begun the long-awaited reconstruction of the historic Braník Bridge. The project, which includes the addition of a second track, will cost CZK 2.7 billion. The bridge's strategic location as the only passage for heavy trains across the Vltava River in Prague and the surrounding area makes this upgrade a vital step for both freight carriers and integrated transport within the city.
The Minister of Transport, Martin Kupka, emphasized the importance of the Braník Bridge for the capital's railways: “Railways in the capital must also offer sufficient capacity for freight trains. In addition, the Braník Bridge, which has so far mainly been used for freight transport, will play a more important role in Prague's integrated transport system. This is one of our concrete steps to promote environmentally friendly passenger and freight transport".
The reconstruction project, which began in July, aims to complete the addition of a second track within 13 months. To facilitate the process, the complete closure of the bridge is planned between 20 October and April of the following year. Once completed, the two-track Braník Bridge will be fully operational by autumn 2024, bringing increased traffic efficiency and safety.
However, the reconstruction presents a challenging situation for freight carriers who primarily utilize the bridge. During the closure period, haulers will be forced to make significant detours, adding hundreds of kilometers to their journeys. The detour routes, via České Budějovice and Chomutov, have been designated to mitigate the impact on freight traffic during the closure. Jiří Svoboda, Director General of the Railway Administration, acknowledged the remoteness of the diversion routes but expressed confidence that the situation would be managed, given that freight traffic is lower from October to April.
Despite the efforts to minimize disruptions, freight carriers, represented by Martin Horinek, president of the Association of Railway Freight Carriers Žesnad, anticipate challenges during the full closure. Horinek pointed out that the Výtoňský Bridge near Vyšehrad is currently the only alternative for crossing the Vltava River in Prague. However, due to its alarming condition, the Výtoňský Bridge has a weight limit of 20 tonnes per axle, which restricts the passage of heavy goods.
