Prague City Hall has issued a tender with an estimated value of CZK 309 million for the long-planned reconstruction of Jiřího z Poděbrad Square. After more than 20 years of discussions, the project was prepared by Prague 3 and then taken over by the capital. The Prague Transport Company (DPP) will close the metro station on the square in mid-January to repair the escalators.
The project to reconstruct the square has been criticised in the past by local residents, which led the then political representation of Prague 3 to halt it in the previous election period. The previous council of the district decided to resume work on the project and agreed with the municipality that the city would take over the documentation and take charge of the modifications once they were completed.
Trees are to be added to the square and a larger space will be created in front of the church for public events. The proposal also includes improving irrigation and green spaces, including the construction of a retention basin. Surfaces and furniture will be repaired. The fountain in front of the metro station, which the town hall had previously considered removing, will be retained.
Last September, DPP started renovating the metro station on the square, which has been in operation since 1980 without major reconstruction. The work has not yet disrupted the station’s operations, but according to earlier information from the company, it will have to be closed from 14 January to November to replace the escalators. New lifts for wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs will also be built in the station and the company plans to put them into operation at the end of the second quarter of next year. The municipality has also been preparing for some time the modifications of Vinohradská Street, which, according to earlier information, should start next year after the completion of the works in the station.
Source: CTK
