SŽDC Presented Assessments of the Výtoň Bridge

Správa železniční dopravní cesty (SŽDC) presented conclusions of the assessment prepared by the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University concerning works carried out up to now on the Výtoň Bridge in Prague to representatives of the historical monuments care from the Ministry of Culture. The conclusions consisted primarily in diagnostics and assessing the current state of the bridge. The document contains also a suggested solution, prepared by Professor Eugen Brühwiler from Switzerland.

The assessment was presented in detail by Mr. Kolísko, Associate Professor from the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University. He confirmed that based in the diagnostics and assessment carried out by Professor Brühwiler, the bridge is in a bad shape and its technical state must be dealt with without delay. Professor Brühwiler expressed his opinion that repairing and preserving the current bridge is worth only in case it can be done without dismantling its construction, with a minimum number of closures, for costs lower than for a new construction as well as with a minimal lifecycle duration of eighty more years guaranteed

Professor Brühwiler suggested an alternate way to handle the situation, consisting in modifying the bridge deck to a slab track; he also outlined a general suggestion for repairing the steel superstructure of the whole bridge. The Klokner Institute verified the suggested possibility in detail and stated that implementing such a solution would present considerable risks - technical, economical as well as legal ones. This solution has not been tested or verified in practice on any intensely used bridge with high operation and of similar importance. Moreover, some suggested approaches are not in accordance with legal requirements applied in conditions of the Czech Republic, i.e. with national and EU standards and SŽDC technical regulations.

In its assessment’s conclusion, the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University states: “Due to the current construction state of the bridge which has to be dealt with very urgently, to highly intense operation which should increase even more according to plans, to possibilities of carrying out repairs and risks during their implementation and during future operation as well as due to other factors, the option of building a new bridge appears as the most viable one“.

All elaborated documents including results of the peer review were submitted to the Ministry of Culture which had called forth them to be able to continue the procedure for submitting an application to SŽDC for rescinding the decision on designating a list of railway bridges on the line Praha hlavní nádraží – Praha-Smíchov as immovable historical landmarks. The resulting decision of the Ministry of Culture will have a decisive impact on further continuation of SŽDC project preparation.

SŽDC plans a meeting with representatives of the Capital City of Prague and other institutions concerned on options and further proceedings of the Výtoň Bridge reconstruction as soon as possible.

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