Blanka tunnel complex
Overview | |
---|---|
Location | Prague, Czech Republic |
Coordinates | 50°6′20.95″N 14°25′1.07″E / 50.1058194°N 14.4169639°E |
Operation | |
Work begun | 2007 |
Opened | 19 September 2015 |
Traffic | automobile |
Vehicles per day | 88,000 (2018) |
Technical | |
Length | 5,502 m (3.4 mi) |
No. of lanes | 4 |
Blanka Tunnel Complex is a part of the Prague City Ring Road. It is the longest road tunnel in the Czech Republic and the longest city tunnel in Europe.[1]
The complex connects the area west of Prague Castle with Trója district in the northeast. Its length is about 5.5 km and consists of three tunnels: Bubenečský, Dejvický and Brusnický. The tunnel complex was designed to relieve the historic center of Prague from heavy traffic.
The construction of the Blanka tunnel was launched back in 2006 by then mayor of Prague Pavel Bém, although it was planned since 1993. The tunnel cost tax payers some 43 billion crowns (2015), much more than the originally announced 21.2 billion. However, this price doesn't include all construction costs. Initially due to open in 2011, the biggest and most expensive project in the history of Prague was repeatedly delayed. The tunnel was officially opened to the public on September 19 2015.[2]