In a sudden burst of speed and efficiency, Prague officials say work on the Libeň bridge could get underway as soon as Friday. Five companies were approached by the city in a flash tender that was originally expected to take weeks. The bridge connecting Prague 7 and Prague 8 was closed to tram and vehicular traffic a week ago due to concern that it could collapse.
The city’s tender ends at 10:00 a.m. on Friday and officials aren’t going to wait around making a decision. “We’ll analyze them immediately, sign a contract and we’re going to want to hand over the building site to the contractor Friday so that work can get underway immediately,” said Petr Smolka director of the Communications Technical Maintenance company (TSK). A condition of the tender is that the winner guarantee that the bridge will pass an inspection to judge its suitable for at least limited use of the bridge.
Last Thursday, inspectors determined that the bridge was in a catastrophic state of disrepair, forcing its immediate closure. The city has sharpened its view on bridge safety following the collapse last December of a foot bridge near the Prague zoo.
