Reconstruction of the famous Negrelli Viaduct began in Prague8/6/2017|Press releasesOn Thursday, June 8, the reconstruction of the 160-year-old Negrelli Viaduct in Prague started. This festive step also commenced the first construction phase of the key connection between the Masarykovo nádraží Railways Station and the Václav Havel Airport. Operation via the viaduct will be quieter thanks to the use of modern technologies and trains be able to go at higher track speeds. The commencement of this important reconstruction, which will take almost three years, was also attended by Deputy Minister of Transport Milan Feranec. The viaduct made of sandstone and granite squares was built between 1846 and 1850. It runs from Karlín through the island of Štvanice to Holešovice with a total length of 1,110 meters. The reason for his construction was the bringing the railway from the north, specifically Děčín and Dresden, to the present Masarykovo nádraží Railway Station. Named after his builder Alois Negrelli, who took over the project after Jan Perner died in a tragic event. After the Charles Bridge, it is the second oldest bridge over the Vltava River in Prague, along with the adjacent historic gate, and is listed among cultural monuments. "The viaduct currently offers a maximum speed of 40 km/h and the track speed will increase to 60 km/h after the reconstruction. This will dramatically improve the traffic flow. Modern safety and communication technology will ensure greater traffic safety," said SZDC CEO Pavel Surý. The reconstruction, starting on 4 July, will have a major impact on the train transport. Most trains between Prague and Kladno will end or start at the newly established Vltavská stop with the possibility of transfer to metro C, for selected trains the Prague-Bubny or Prague-Dejvice terminal will be the end station. Express trains from Děčín and passenger trains from Kralupy nad Vltavou will ride from Roztok u Prahy to Masarykovo nádraží via a diversion through the Holešovice railway station. The reconstruction will apply to all 99 original bridge arches and the so-called connecting viaduct, which allowed the direct connection between the stations in Bubeň and Libeň in 1875, outside current the Masaryk railway station will be also repaired. Part of the project is also the demolition of all built-in vaults and non-original extensions except for the transformer station by street Křižíkova. The arches at the Florenc Bus Station will be again walled up from one side to regulate the pedestrian flows. The construction called the "Negrelli Viaduct Reconstruction" is co-funded by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. The total investment costs planned for the project amount to CZK 1.44 billion. About 85 percent of the cost will come from the European Union Fund.