Prague to replace the 90-year-old Liben Bridge

The Czech capital Prague will replace the deteriorating 90-year-old Liben Bridge at a cost of more than €20 million.

The 370m-long bridge over the River Vlatava connects the city quarters of Holešovice and Libeň. It was closed to traffic for several weeks earlier this year for emergency but temporary repairs, according to Prague media.

Replacement will include a similarly long bridge plus 400m of roads on either bank of the river but be built on the existing bridge piers. Like the old bridge , it will have tram lines as well as bike lanes.

The old Liben Bridge is 21m wide and has five arches with spans between 28-43m. It replaced a temporary wooden bridge when it was opened in 1928 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the existence of Czechoslovakia.

Deputy mayor Petr Dolinek has said that the contract for the new bridge would be a fixed price deal to avoid the cost rises.

But demolition of the old bridge, however, is proving controversial among environmentalists, historians, many city councillors and the local population because of its cultural significance.