Czech Republic's Plasy Bypass to Feature Nation's Highest Road Bridge

The Czech Roads and Motorways Directorate (ŘSD) has begun construction of a 5.6‑kilometre bypass around the town of Plasy in the Plzeň Region. A centerpiece of the project is a 496‑metre bridge that will rise 87.3 metres above the Střela River, making it the highest road bridge in the Czech Republic.

The bypass and bridge together cost about 763 million CZK for the bypass and 571 million CZK for the bridge, fully financed by the State Transport Infrastructure Fund. The works are being carried out by Strabag SIS and a consortium of Stavby mostů, Eurovia CZ and Sagasta. Completion is targeted for the end of the third quarter of 2028, with the bridge expected to open no later than December 2028.

The existing I/27 route through Plasy handles up to 10,000 vehicles per day, including a growing number of heavy trucks, and is known for hazardous curves and frequent accidents. The new bypass will divert traffic from the town centre, improve safety, reduce noise, and protect the historic 12th‑century Cistercian monastery complex. Construction challenges include relocating 1.2 million tonnes of earth, building four additional bridges, and addressing environmentally sensitive areas such as rare steppe grasses and a rock outcrop that forced route changes.