The city of Prague is strengthening its flood protection in the historic city centre. In future, the mobile barriers will be able to withstand water levels similar to those of the 2002 centennial flood, plus an additional 30 centimetres. Temporary sandbag dykes will also be replaced with permanent solutions.
Prague is continuing to invest in flood protection and will raise the flood defences in the city centre to the level of the 2002 flood, with an added safety margin of 30 centimetres. This step will improve the resilience of the barriers, such as those along Masarykovo and Dvořákovo nábřeží. Instead of the previously used sandbag dykes, mobile protection systems will be implemented.
Building on the experiences, including the flood last year, the capital will further enhance flood protection in the city centre, particularly in the Josefov area. Here too, the flood protection will be raised to the level of the 2002 flood plus 30 centimetres.
“The flood protection in Prague’s city centre works well, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels. Therefore, we are replacing older elements with new ones and adding sections where only temporary sandbag dykes have been built so far,” said Michal Hroza, Prague’s Councillor for Infrastructure.
Initially, the existing mobile protection system in the sections of Masarykovo nábřeží, Smetanovo nábřeží, Alšovo nábřeží (Four Seasons Hotel), and Dvořákovo nábřeží (Na Františku) will be strengthened. Stone base areas and the stainless steel anchors of the previous systems will be removed and replaced with new stainless steel constructions – similar to those already in use in other parts of the city.
At the same time, mobile protection systems will be renewed in sections where sandbags have been used up until now. The project also includes the full delivery of all components of the mobile protection system. In the Na Františku section, part of the area will also be secured by a concrete wall. The planned construction time is approximately twelve months.
