New Vltava Bridge for the Prague Ring Road: Transport Ministry Selects Winning Design
The new Vltava bridge is set to become part of the northern section of the Prague Ring Road between Sedlec and Zámky
Visualization: Sdružení Stráský, Hustý a partneři a Studio acht
With the selection of the winning design for the Suchdolský most, the completion of the Prague Ring Road has moved another step closer. The central commission of the Ministry approved the further preparation of the bridge based on the design by the architectural studios Stráský, Hustý a partneři and Studio acht.
With the decision, the international architectural competition for the new Vltava bridge was officially concluded. The competition had been organised by the Czech Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD). The bridge is set to become part of the planned northern section of the Prague Ring Road between Suchdol and Březiněves.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the selected design was chosen not only for its architectural quality, but also because it allows for comparatively limited impact on the surrounding area. Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik stated that, following extensive discussions, the commission had selected a solution that would bring “a new quality” to Czech infrastructure while keeping the burden on surrounding city districts and municipalities as low as possible.
Source: Visualization: Sdružení Stráský, Hustý a partneři a Studio acht
The architectural competition had originally been announced in 2023. In 2025, an expert jury selected a total of five proposals, which were subsequently reviewed in detail by ŘSD. Among the key factors considered were technical solutions, economic aspects throughout the bridge’s entire life cycle, construction demands, and the impact on the environmental permitting process (EIA).
For the final decision by the Central Commission, two projects were ultimately shortlisted: a proposal by the company Valbek and the now-selected design by Stráský, Hustý a partneři and Studio acht. An analysis by the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) concluded that although the selected variant would involve higher construction costs, the differences in overall costs across the bridge’s full lifespan would be significantly reduced.
The new Suchdolský most is expected to reach a length of 606 metres and cross the Vltava between Sedlec on the left riverbank and the Zámky area on the right side. Plans include a total of six traffic lanes as well as additional hard shoulders. Tunnels are also planned to connect directly to the bridge on both sides.
Current construction costs for the new bridge are estimated at around CZK 3.5 billion. The final costs are expected to be determined only after the completion of the tender process for the construction company.
