Skip to main content

Legal step for Czech tunnel project

The torturous legal case regarding the stalled Blanka Tunnel project in the Czech Republic has taken one step forward. An arbitration court in the country has ruled that the tunnel has to be completed within five months' time. The construction work was halted earlier due to a dispute between the contractor and the city authorities. The tunnel is required to help reduce traffic congestion in the Czech capital Prague with work having commenced in 2007. The project was originally supposed to be ready for traff
April 23, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The Blanka Tunnel in the Czech capital Prague features innovative technology but work has been hit by legal issues
The torturous legal case regarding the stalled Blanka Tunnel project in the Czech Republic has taken one step forward. An arbitration court in the country has ruled that the tunnel has to be completed within five months' time. The construction work was halted earlier due to a dispute between the contractor and the city authorities. The tunnel is required to help reduce traffic congestion in the Czech capital Prague with work having commenced in 2007. The project was originally supposed to be ready for traffic by 2011 but costs spiralled and this was one of several factors along with allegations of performance targets not having been met that gave rise to the current complex court cases. This latest judgement calls for the city of Prague to pay some €145.64 million to the construction firm Metrostav. However the firm is seeking an additional €36.4 million from the city, which will be handled in court in June 2014.

Related Content

  • Blanka Tunnel In Czech republic faces further delay
    July 11, 2014
    The opening of the Blanka Tunnel in the Czech Republic will be further delayed. The tunnel will now open for traffic in April 2015 instead of October 2014, which was the most recent opening date for the link. This delay has been attributed to issues with the technology being installed in the link, although the construction work being carried out by Metrostav is now close to completion. In all, the project is costing some €1.31 billion. When the tunnel is complete it will help lower congestion levels in Czec
  • Concern is being shown over the state of Czech bridges
    August 2, 2012
    An inspection carried out by German specialists has highlighted technical issues with five bridges in the Czech city of Ostrava. The Czech Road and Motorway Headquarters (RSD) has said that a more comprehensive study will be required before the type of repairs needed can be identified and a programme of works established. There have been questions over the scope and accuracy of the one day inspection however.
  • Warm mix use in the US and Czech Republic is strong
    May 20, 2014
    The Czech Republic has seen its first ever use of warm mix produced using additive Evotherm - and a survey carried out in the US shows that warm mix is still on the rise there - Kristina Smith reports The troubled Blanka Tunnel in Prague will see the Czech Republic’s first ever use of Evotherm warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology. The 6km tunnel is the longest urban motorway tunnel in Europe and will take the north-west section of the city ring road below ground. Designed as dual carriageway throughout w
  • Tunnel delays in Czech link
    February 27, 2012
    Drilling work on the Blanka road tunnel in Czech capital Prague has now been completed.