Long-awaited Dvorecký Bridge opens in Prague, linking Smíchov and Podolí
A new bridge over the Vltava River in Prague has officially opened to the public. The long-awaited Dvorecký Bridge, reserved for trams, buses, cyclists and pedestrians, is expected to ease congestion and speed up journeys across the city.
City officials, including the mayor and the project’s architects, gathered on Friday to officially open the Dvorecký Bridge. The opening, held on April 17 to mark World Public Transport Day, also drew large crowds of Prague residents eager to see the new structure for themselves.
The new link between Smíchov and Podolí is set to play an important role in Prague’s transport network. It is meant to take pressure off the heavily used Barrandov Bridge and make journeys—especially by bus—faster and more reliable.
Work on the project began in 2022 and was due to finish in early 2025. Difficult conditions in the riverbed caused delays, and the final cost rose from about 1.6 billion to nearly 2 billion Czech crowns.
Designing it was far from simple. Architect Radek Šíma had to work with strict limits—just two supports in the river and riverbanks at different heights. Instead of a classic arch, the team chose a more angular design inspired by Czech Cubism. The result is a sleek structure made of light grey concrete, with a clean, modern look.
The project is also expected to significantly reshape bus and tram routes across the city. Tram lines 20 and 21 will run across it, along with several bus routes.
According to Filip Drápal, spokesperon of Prague’s public transport organiser Ropid, the impact will be considerable:
“Bus routes between Smíchovské nádraží and Budějovická will also use Dvorecký Bridge. The expected fast connection between Prague 4 and Prague 5 will lead to strengthened bus transport, as bus line number 124 will also be rerouted across the bridge.”
The bridge was also the subject of heated debate well before its completion. Private cars are not allowed on it, with access limited to public transport, cyclists, pedestrians, and emergency services.
City councillor for transport Jaromír Beránek says that restriction is deliberate:
“We will aim to ensure that drivers do not attempt to enter the bridge. Prohibition signs are installed to define permitted vehicle types. In the next phase, we plan to install new technologies, such as sensors to measure bridge usage and camera systems.”
To mark the opening, the city organized a full day of events, with free ferry rides and special journeys on vintage buses and historic trams.
Although the bridge itself is now complete, work around it is still ongoing. On the Smíchov side, a so-called “light garden” designed by Krištof Kintera will be built over the coming months, featuring 120 different street lamps from around the world. The surrounding public space is expected to be finished next year.
Dvorecký Bridge is the 21st bridge to span the Vltava in Prague and the fifth from the south. The most recent addition before it was the so-called HolKa footbridge which opened in 2023 between Holešovice and Karlín.
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