Tram closures in center of Prague complicate public transport and car traffic
Workers in Prague have started building tracks that will connect Vinohradská třída, near the National Museum building, with Wenceslas Square. Trams will return to the area after almost half a century. The construction work is already limiting traffic on the main line, and the restrictions will be extended in the direction of the city center from July. Public transport passengers will have to prepare for traffic complications.
Representatives of municipal companies and the municipality started the construction near the National Museum building in Prague on June 12. The works will last 20 months with trams not running between the I. P. Pavlova and Muzeum stops for the entire duration of construction.
Over the weekend, the transport company began removing the tracks on Legerova Street, which will be replaced by a relocation of the main road to allow work to begin beneath the current roadway. The first phase of the project will be carried out primarily by road workers, explains Jan Šurovský, Technical Director of DPP:
"There are spaces beneath the arterial road that once served as an underpass, while others were never used for any specific purpose. These will be removed this year, so the main work will take place on the arterial road. In the next construction season, the dead-end tracks near Muzeum will be connected."
The construction of the tram line is also connected with the planned long-term closure, he adds:
"Tram operations will end on Friday. Over the weekend, an alternative terminus at Muzeum will be constructed, which will then be served by the shortened Line 13. This line will operate only between Olšanské hřbitovy and Muzeum. Line 11 will continue to run along the parallel Korunní Street, so the change there is relatively minor."
The current underpass leading from the National Museum to Vinohradská Street will similarly close, says deputy director general of the Technical Administration of Communications, Josef Richter:
"The transport company will remove the tracks, and we will immediately begin relocating the road onto the former tramway corridor. This means the main thoroughfare will be shifted by 10 meters. Where you currently see trams running, there will be cars instead, as tram service will be suspended in that section."
The connection of the line to the existing tracks in Vinohradská Street should significantly relieve the congested line in Ječná Street and the routes in the city centre in general. Šurovský adds to some of the benefits of the connection:
“The benefit of this entire connection is that it links various places in the city center which, although quite close to each other today, are currently connected in a very complicated way. It is really important to establish a diversion route so that the necessary reconstructions in this area can finally, after many delays, be carried out. One of the main reasons for the delays has been the inability to organize suitable replacement transport.”
The tram line on Wenceslas Square is due to be completed in about two years. If everything goes according to plan, the first passengers should ride on it in 2027.
