A cubist bridge in the Czech capital Prague has been closed indefinitely to trams because of concerns about the condition of the reinforced concrete structure.
Liben bridge, which was completed in 1928 to a design by Pavel Janák , is a 370m arched bridge that carries trams and motor traffic over the river Vltava.
Prague Public Transport Company has taken the decision to suspend the tram route on Liben bridge to avoid the need for sudden closures in response to the combination of the structure’s condition and low temperatures. The issue is believed to be the same as the fault that led to the bridge being closed in January, which was discovered during geodetic measurements and joint monitoring by the city’s communications administration.
The seven tram services affected will be replaced by buses until the bridge can be repaired.
In 2018, Liben Bridge was found to be in poor condition and demolition was suggested (link opens in new tab). But the city deemed it an architectural monument of incalculable value. Designs for a revamp were unveiled in 2022 (link opens in new tab).
