Construction on Prague's Wenceslas Square tram line to begin this spring

Prague public transport authority DPP has officially inked a deal with Eurovia CZ to construct the new tram line on Wenceslas Square, reports transportation server Zdopravy.cz. Signed on January 10, the new contract comes with a price tag of CZK 1.239 billion and a construction period of 1,095 days, signaling a significant advancement in the city's public transportation infrastructure.

Construction is planned to begin in the second quarter of 2024. According to documentation from Prague Integrated Transport, the new line should be fully functional by 2030, but could be ready well ahead of then given the three-year construction schedule.

"Now it is necessary for the contractor to draw up documentation for the execution of the construction, to handle all occupations and permits, and DPP must complete the tender for the supervision of the construction," DPP spokesperson Daniel Šabík tells Zdopravy.cz.

"Only after the completion of these processes can the construction of the new tram line on Wenceslas Square begin. We would like it to be as soon as possible, our assumption is that it will be during the second quarter of this year."

The new line will significantly improve connections from the city center to Vinohrady and beyond, and ease traffic congestion on Ječná Street and at Karlovo náměstí, and enable connections from Vodičkova Street to Vinohradská, from Masarykovo nádraží to Muzeum, from Náměstí Republiky to the center of Vršovice, and other routes.

The daily operation of the new route on Wenceslas Square will feature three regular tram lines with new routes (6, 13, and 21). Additionally, night operations will include Line 95 running down the square.

The project's scope encompasses not only the creation of the new tram line, but also all associated necessities, such as road and sidewalk reconstructions, re-routing of utilities, and essential modifications to subway vestibule ceilings.

Compared to its historical route, the new tram tracks will follow the sides of Wenceslas Square, creating a pedestrian promenade in the middle. This redesign comes with widened sidewalks, a dedicated cycling lane, a new line of trees, and a reduction in parking spaces.

The return of trams to the upper part of Wenceslas Square also revives a dormant 70-meter-long track between the National Museum's two buildings, which was constructed in 2018 in preparation for the new line on Wenceslas Square.

With construction set to begin this spring, Prague anticipates not only a functional tram line but also an enhanced urban landscape around Wenceslas Square, reinforcing the city's commitment to sustainable and efficient public transportation.