Charles Bridge, Czech Republic
Charles Bridge in Prague was built between 1357 and 1406 by King Charles IV, the King of Bohemia and Emperor of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.
It is one of the most important national and cultural monuments in the Czech Republic and is protected by law. Since 1993 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stone bridge features a series of 30 superb statues covering a period from the beginning of the 17th century to the early 1900s. At each end of the bridge stand two imposing Gothic towers.

Saving unique heritage
In recent years the bridge has been showing signs of deformation and deterioration, made worse by the severe flooding that deluged Prague in 2002. Together with experts from Prague University, Mott MacDonald carried out a detailed review in 2003 of all available documents and research results to assess the condition of the monument.

Based on these findings, we led the team in developing a conceptual design for repairing the 650-year old stone structure, together with recommendations on how this reconstruction work should be carried out. We also prepared guidelines for a sustainable, long-term maintenance strategy.

In May 2004 our team’s proposals were approved by the Municipality of the City of Prague which has been carrying out regular measurements of the bridge's structural movements and condition. The Mott MacDonald-led team has been appointed to provide engineering services for preparing the reconstruction work and managing all related activities. Reconstruction of the bridge will be completed within two years and has to be executed without interrupting operation of this strategic river crossing.