Prague completes first stage of renovations at riverside avenue

The first stage of planned renovations at Prague's busy riverside avenue Smetanovo nábřeží (Smetana's Embankment) have now been completed, and pedestrians can look forward to increased space and more greenery while walking down the street.

Sidewalk space has now been extended at the expense of parking spots, while 17 new trees have been planted down the side of the street. Additional tables with chairs have also been placed along the sidewalk.

The street now also features a cycling path from the National Theatre to Charles Bridge that has been separated from the primary street. Previously, cyclists had to ride within the main roadway, which was dominated by tram tracks.

These renovations, along with additional work that will continue at the location over the next two months, had previously been billed as "the biggest transformation in the center of Prague over the past decades."

Named after Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, Smetanovo nábřeží runs next to the Vltava river in central Prague from Charles Bridge to the National Theatre.

Despite its prominent location in the city center, the street has long catered to automotive traffic over pedestrians, and taking a stroll down it may not have been as picturesque as other central Prague avenues for tourists.

Now, however, Smetanovo nábřeží has begun to change. The first stage of renovations is completed, and have been largely aimed at increasing the quality of the strip for pedestrians in the city center.

The next stage of renovations along Smetanovo nábřeží will focus on amending the current public transport stops to make the area more accessible for those traveling by tram or bus.

Public transport stops at Karlovy lázně (by Charles Bridge) and the National Theatre will both be altered to make things a little easier for passengers. The Karlovy lázně stop, which only functioned in one direction, will be extended to both sides, while stops by the National Theatre will be reorganized and made barrier-free.

"The center of Prague is facing its biggest change over the last few decades. The area from Klementinum through Křižovnické náměstí to the National Theater will be completely transformed," Prague's Deputy Mayor for Transport Adam Scheinherr stated in a press release earlier this year.

"Praguers can look forward to new tram stops, a row of trees on Smetana's Embankment, a wide pedestrian promenade lined with trees thanks to extended sidewalks, benches, and a separate cycle path through a section where it is missing today."