From Tuesday, August 11, to Friday, August 28, Prague's transport operator will completely suspend tram traffic in both directions between the stops náměstí Bratří Synků and Spořilov. The reason is a major overhaul of the worn-out tram tracks on Chodovská Street, on the stretch between the junction with U Plynárny Street and the bridge over the Botič stream.
According to Daniel Šabík, spokesman for the Prague public transport company, the tracks here were last replaced back in 1990, so the repair work is long overdue. The whole project is expected to take 18 days.
At the same time, crews will modernize the switches at the intersections of Nuselská Street with Vladimírova and Na Zámecké streets. This work will require a six-day closure — from August 11 to 16 — but only during daytime hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the section between náměstí Bratří Synků and the Pankrác tram depot.
The closure was deliberately limited to daytime hours rather than round-the-clock, Šabík explained, so that trams can still leave the depot for service in the morning and return in the evening. The works will also include resurfacing of the roadway on Nuselská Street and U Plynárny Street.
This is the last major summer tram construction project in Prague this year. Drivers near the work sites should expect traffic disruptions. Timetable changes will affect tram lines 4, 11, 24, 95 and 96 — the daytime route of line 4 from Radlice will be shortened to Čechovo náměstí, where passengers can transfer to line 11 toward Spojovací.
To replace the suspended trams on the stretch Nádraží Vršovice – Otakarova – náměstí Bratří Synků – Pod Jezerkou – Chodovská – Spořilov, substitute buses X11 (daytime) and X96 (nighttime) will run. In addition, bus X24 will operate during the day along the route Nádraží Vršovice – Otakarova – náměstí Bratří Synků – Pod Jezerkou – Michelská.
Passengers traveling from Spořilov are advised to use regular bus lines 118, 135, 138 and 170 to reach Metro Line C stations, or bus lines 135, 136 and 213 to the Slavia-Nádraží Eden stop.
Meanwhile, in Prague 1, repairs to the tram tracks on Spálená Street and Národní třída are nearing completion — this closure affects as many as twelve tram lines, and until Monday, passengers in the city centre are advised to rely primarily on the metro.
Read also: Prague Metro: map and tickets
Source: novinky.cz