The historic railway bridge in Prague’s Výtoň district will be completely renovated and preserved in its original location. The decision by Transport Minister Martin Kupka was made based on a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and other recommendations from heritage institutions, including the National Heritage Institute.

The Railway Administration plans to dismantle the original Výtoň Bridge, built in 1901, within three years and relocate it to a suitable site where it will be thoroughly repaired. At the same time, it will construct a temporary bridge below Prague’s Vyšehrad to maintain rail traffic.

According to the conclusions of the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) of the planned reconstruction of the Výtoň Railway Bridge, relocating the original riveted truss structure would result in the irreversible loss of a significant cultural asset. The assessment concludes by recommending that the bridge be preserved and repaired at its original location and supplemented with a new flat bridge to increase capacity. The technical design of the third track will be the subject of an architectural competition to be announced by the Railway Administration.

Railway Bridge Reconstruction Schedule

• 2025 to Q3 2026: Preparation of background materials and tender documentation for the architectural competition
• Q4 2026 to 2027: International architectural competition, selection of the winning design
• 2028: Design of the new bridge, including reconstruction of the existing bridge and the Výtoň transport terminal
• Q1 2029 to Q3 2029: Tender for the contractor of the new bridge, including reconstruction of the existing bridge and the Výtoň transport terminal
• Q4 2029 to 2032: Construction

The railway bridge at Výtoň, built in 1901, is a key part of Prague’s transport infrastructure, but due to its poor technical condition and fatigue cracks, it is reaching the end of its service life. The original design by engineers from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries anticipated that the bridge would undergo major repairs primarily involving the renewal of the anti-corrosion coating for the first time after roughly thirty years and for the second time after roughly sixty years. After that, the structure was to be allowed to reach the end of its service life; from the outset, it was expected to be replaced after approximately 90 years of existence. The bridge has now been in service for 124 years.