Prague City Hall to Launch New Tender for Completion of Libeň Bridge After Antitrust Dispute

Prague's transport company TSK is preparing a separate tender to finish building a bridge that has already been dismantled and partially reconstructed as part of the Libeň Bridge complex in Prague. This was announced by TSK director Hájek after the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) blocked the continuation of the previous contract with the firm Metrostav TBR.

The saga dates back to 2022, when TSK selected Metrostav TBR to reconstruct the Libeň Bridge. Later, however, city officials approved major changes to the project: instead of the planned repair, they decided to replace the bridge over the Vltava with a replica. According to the antitrust office, this effectively amounted to awarding a new public contract without a competitive tender, so ÚOHS ordered TSK to halt work under the original agreement.

By that point, TSK had already demolished one of the bridges within the complex and had begun building its replacement. Because of the antitrust ruling, construction had to be stopped. According to Hájek, the company will soon launch its own tender to complete this section of the bridge.

Deputy Mayor Jaroslav Bérnek (Pirates) had earlier proposed opening this bridge as a temporary structure as soon as possible, since it is needed to restore tram service. However, according to Hájek, that idea did not go through: construction is now planned to be completed in full, as a single unified project.

At the same time, the city company is preparing a tender for the design documentation covering the remaining part of the reconstruction of the entire bridge complex. TSK's director said the company had received all completed parts of the project from Metrostav TBR. "We were handed over all the documentation that had already been developed, which we had paid for," he said, adding that the preparatory materials are 80–90 percent complete.

The new contractor will be responsible for completing the documentation, making any necessary revisions, and obtaining the required permits. After that, another tender will be needed — this time to select a construction company to finish the reconstruction. In addition, TSK is considering holding a separate competition for building a temporary pedestrian and cycling bridge across the Vltava, which would connect the two banks while the main bridge is under reconstruction.

The Libeň Bridge complex consists of six bridges. It was built in 1928 according to a design by architect Pavel Janák and has never undergone a major overhaul since. Under Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO movement) from 2014 to 2018, the city planned to demolish the historic bridge over the river and replace it with a new structure, but the following city administration decided to pursue repairs instead. At the end of 2023, based on structural calculations, it was decided to build a replica of the bridge on its original piers — a decision that, along with other changes, triggered the antitrust office's intervention and delayed the reconstruction by several more years.

Read also: Extension of temporary protection in Czechia for Ukrainians

Around Prague, based on reporting by prazsky.denik.cz