Výtoň railway bridge: Protesters call for preservation on 125th anniversary

A gathering of approximately one hundred people took place at the Výtoň railway bridge in Prague to mark its 125th anniversary. Participants displayed a banner addressed to Andrej Babiš, reading “Andreji Babiši, oprav most!” (Andrej Babiš, repair the bridge!), and presented 125 roses to symbolize the anniversary.

The future of the heritage-protected steel structure, which connects Výtoň to Smíchov, has been a subject of debate for years. While the Railway Administration (SŽ) previously selected a plan to replace the steel construction with a new one on the original pillars, local districts, associations, and heritage organizations have resisted this move.

An international expert group established by the National Heritage Institute concluded in June that the bridge could be preserved and operated for at least another 100 years with proper reconstruction. They recommended increasing capacity by building a separate bridge for a third track. Currently, the bridge is subject to severe limitations, allowing only one train at a time at a maximum speed of 20 km/h. The Railway Administration is currently working on temporary reinforcement using carbon strips to maintain limited operations until at least 2028.