Prague, Czech Republic – September 25, 2023 – In a crucial move to enhance flood resilience, the Prague councilors have given their approval to initiate a public contract tender for the upgrading of mobile flood protection and other flood prevention measures. This strategic decision is aimed at safeguarding the city center from potential floods and building on existing defenses.

The project, as outlined on the Prague City Hall’s official website, intends to bolster the existing mobile barriers on vital locations such as Masarykovo nábřeží, Smetanovo nábřeží, Alšovo nábřeží, and Dvořákovo. These barriers will be raised to ensure a safety margin of 30 centimeters above the water level recorded during the destructive 2002 floods.

As part of this comprehensive contract, the current protective elements will be entirely replaced with new structures constructed from matte stainless steel. Furthermore, the agreement encompasses the delivery of mobile barrier components, including essential spare parts, to guarantee long-term functionality and sustainability.

A significant aspect of this initiative is the expansion of mobile barriers to areas currently protected by sandbags. New flood prevention sections will be seamlessly integrated with existing landing areas, enhancing the overall protection while maintaining a 30-centimeter safety buffer above the 2002 floodwater level.

Pending approval from city councilors, the modernization of mobile flood protection is scheduled to commence between 2023 and 2024, with a project timeline not exceeding 12 months.

This endeavor builds upon the extensive flood prevention measures implemented in Prague since 1999. These measures have been executed in eight stages, covering various districts of the city. The first stage focused on protecting Staré Město and Josefov, while subsequent stages extended to areas like Malá Strana, Karlín, and Libeň. The final two phases concentrated on Troja and Modřany.

Notably, in 2002, when devastating floods ravaged the capital city, only the first stage had been completed. While the catastrophic floods resulted in damages worth 27 billion CZK, the completed protection of Staré Město spared it from direct harm.

Today, the comprehensive flood prevention system in Prague stretches over 19 kilometers and comprises a mix of earthen embankments, solid concrete walls, and the crucial mobile barriers. The portable barriers alone cover a distance of approximately 6.7 kilometers, offering versatile protection. Their height varies between 0.2 to 6.2 meters, ensuring adaptability to diverse flood scenarios.

The total cost of constructing these extensive flood prevention measures has amounted to approximately 4 billion CZK, underlining the city’s commitment to protecting its residents and infrastructure from the ever-present threat of flooding.

Article by Prague Forum