Libeň Bridge
The Libeň Bridge is a bridge in Prague over the river Vltava. It connects the city quarter Holešovice on the left side with the city quarter Libeň on the right side of the river. It is the fifteenth bridge way down the river and there is a tram line on its roadway.
Architecture
The Libeň Bridge is 370 metres long but it has 780 metres together with the ramp on the side of Holešovice. With its 780 metres, it is the longest bridge in Prague. Its wide is 21 metres and the tram line is a part of the bridge since its opening.The concrete bridge was designed by architects Pavel Janák and František Mencl in the Cubist style. It has five arches with the spans between 28 and 43 metres. It has replaced the temporary wooden bridge which stood on its place since the year 1903. The Libeň Bridge was open for the public on April 29, 1928, to the tenth anniversary of the existence of Czechoslovakia.
The bridge was slightly damaged by the flood in the year 2002. In 2016, a study by the ČVUT stated that the bridge needs restoration. On early January 19, 2018, the Prague City Hall closed the bridge for cars and trams. On March 3, 2018, the bridge got reopened for trams. On January 11, 2024, the bridge got closed for trams again.
Names of the bridge
Originally proposed name: Masaryk Bridge, in honor of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia1928-1939: Libeň Bridge, according to the nearest city quarter Libeň
1939-1940: Baxa Bridge, in honor of Karel Baxa, the mayor of Prague in the years 1919-1937
1940-1945: Libeň Bridge, according to the nearest city quarter Libeň
1945-1952: Baxa Bridge
1952-1962: Stalingrad Bridge, according to the city of Stalingrad
since 1962: ''Libeň Bridge''