The Czech government’s road and motorway directorate RSD has reported that thousands of bridges in the country are in a critical state.
Nearly 10% or the 5,000 motorway or first-class road bridges are in bad, very bad or emergency condition. The same applies to almost 3,000 bridges on second- and third-class roads.
RSD has allocated around €69 million for repairs of bridges at main roads and motorways this year
The report comes at the same time the Liben Bridge – one of Prague’s main bridges – was closed to traffic after a report highlighting its dangerous state, according to Radio Prague.
In December, a pedestrian bridge over the Vltava River in Prague collapsed but no one was injured.
The 370m-long 21m-wide road and tram Libeň Bridge was closed for several weeks after a report warned against the condition of several sections. A vehicle weight restriction was needed, according to the report, but the city closed the bridge to all traffic except pedestrians while repairs were carried out.
It’s estimated that around 14,000 cars and 1,000 trams use the 90-year-old concrete and stone bridge daily.
