Current Affairs Prague’s southern bypass opens amidst controversy
There were the usual smiles and handshakes as President Vaclav Klaus, Prague Mayor Pavel Bém and other top officials cut the ribbon at the opening of a long-awaited new bypass on the south-western outskirts of Prague on Monday morning. But behind the scenes the mood was far less optimistic. Even before it officially opened the bypass, which links the D1 and D5 highways from Plzen to Brno, evoked plenty of controversy.
Photo: ČTK
The costliest construction project in the country’s history did not get
off to a good start. A promised preview of the newly constructed road and
tunnels to which the transport ministry invited the public on Saturday was
badly botched. Thousands of people turned up but saw very little since much
of the site was still closed off with workers finishing up in haste for the
bypass to open to traffic on Monday.
However the wrath of the public was the least of the ministry’s problems. As Transport Minister Vít Bárta said at the opening ceremony on Monday, the planned opening of the 20 billion crown project was in serious jeopardy up until the last minute.
Vít Bárta and Václav Klaus, photo: ČTK
“In the past few hours I have had to decide whether to open the southern
bypass or not. An inspection of the work revealed three badly sealed joints
in construction – which some consider to be a serious problem. I trust
the opinion of experts at the Prague Technical University, who have assured
me that these faults will have no impact on the structural integrity of the
bridge. I also await impatiently the outcome of an independent study from
the Technical University of Innsbruck.”
Although expert opinion is divided on the matter, the Transport Ministry says it is perfectly safe to open the 23 kilometer stretch of road. Deputy Transport Minister Radek Šmerda assured the public that the faulty joints would be under constant surveillance with tests conducted at regular intervals.
Photo: ČTK
“The bypass can safely be put into trial operation, and I emphasize the
word trial. During this time it will be under constant surveillance and it
is possible that other inadequacies may emerge, as happens with
construction projects this size. Fresh tests will be conducted in a
fortnight’s time, then again in another two weeks, and after that at
regular intervals for the next five years. Moreover a special monitoring
device will be put in place to alert us to any change in the badly sealed
joints at any time in the future.”
Photo: ČTK
The newly-opened road will enable drivers travelling from one end of the
country to the other to by-pass Prague. The city’s heavily congested
southern highway is used by approximately 100,000 drivers a day. Prague
City Hall is hoping that at least a third of them will now use the bypass
instead. This should make life easier, particularly for lorry drivers on
transit routes. However, haulage companies are none too happy about the
fact that the authorities have lost no time levying a road toll on the new
bypass.
Money was the operative word at Monday’s launch of the most costly road construction project ever undertaken in the Czech Republic and the mood was suitably low-spirited. Transport Minister Vít Bárta bemoaned the excessive cost of the bypass and in a symbolic gesture ordered that instead of champagne and canapés the officials present were to be offered lentils and water.
