Load Test on New Dvorecký Bridge in Prague: Opening to Traffic Planned for April

The Dvorecký Bridge in Prague has successfully undergone a load test, bringing the planned opening closer. The bridge is scheduled to be opened to traffic in April.

On Wednesday, a comprehensive load test took place on the new Dvorecký Bridge between the Prague districts of Podolí and Zlíchov. The test represents one of the key steps ahead of the planned opening of the bridge to the public and public transport, scheduled for April this year.

The load test was carried out throughout the day on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. Initially, eight vehicles, each weighing 32 tonnes, drove onto the central section of the bridge, followed by a further six vehicles on the Podolí side. During the test, the deflection of the structure was measured geodetically at designated points. Numerous other parameters were also monitored, including the structure’s temperature variations, strains in selected cross-sections, the condition of the cable ducts, and the forces in the prestressing cables.

Foto: Portál hlavního města Prahy

From the planners’ perspective, the test is of central importance. Lead designer Petr Souček explained that the aim was to compare the bridge’s real-world behaviour with the computational models. The data collected will also be important for the future operator, to assess the structure’s response to load over the long term. The evaluation of the measurement results is expected in the coming days.

According to the construction companies, one of the greatest challenges of the project was the complex shape of the structure. The geological conditions at the bridge’s foundations, as well as the site logistics, also posed significant demands. On the Podolí side, work to connect the bridge to the tram network has already been completed. From 24 January, construction work will shift to the Zlíchov side, where it is expected to continue until early February. In the future, tram lines 20 and 21, as well as several bus and night services, will use the new bridge.

Due to the weather, work on the final asphalt layers of the side pedestrian and cycle paths is currently paused. These are expected to be completed in March 2026. The bridge itself, however, is still scheduled to open to traffic in April.

Foto: Portál hlavního města Prahy

Beneath the bridge, on the Zlíchov side, a light installation entitled Light Removes Darkness is also being created. The project plans an extraordinary collection of street lamps from around 80 countries. Completion of this light park is expected in September. Over the coming years, the bridge surroundings will be developed into a multifunctional space with cultural and leisure offerings.