Consider the Holešovický železniční most a silent giant. It connects Prague-Holešovice station with Rokytka junction in Libeň. This bridge carries the Holešovice relocation line. It also links to the railway tunnel under Bílá skála. The Holešovický železniční most whispers tales of innovation and necessity.
Interestingly this bridge has no official name. People often call it just “railway bridge”. Others refer to it as the “Holešovice Railway Bridge”.
The Holešovický železniční most is the fifth railway bridge across the Vltava in Prague. It follows the Negrelli Viaduct and two Vyšehrad bridges. The Braník Bridge also precedes it. Uniquely this bridge doesn’t cross the Vltava perpendicularly. It runs at an angle. Its left abutment is further downstream than the right.
Did you know the Holešovický železniční most is made of prestressed concrete? The earlier Nusle Bridge also uses this material. However the structural design differs. The Holešovický železniční most is divided into five spans. Each span measures 77.5 meters. Each is a two-hinged frame of prestressed reinforced concrete. The four piers minimize the impact on river flow.
Ing. Dr. Vilém Možíš designed the construction method. Ing. Jaroslav Vostřel from Stavby silnic a železnic projected it. Construction finished in December 1976. The Holešovický železniční most plays a vital role. It supports Prague’s railway network.
The Holešovický železniční most is part of the Holešovice railway relocation. It links Holešovice with Libeň. On the Libeň side it connects to a 331-meter tunnel under White Rock. The line includes other bridge structures. These cross Rokytka and Zenklova Street. Others span Na Žertvách Street and Sokolovská Street. There are two more bridges on the Prague–Vysočany line.
The bridge spans 387.5 meters in length and 10 meters in width. It features five bays each measuring 77.5 meters. Double-hinged frames rest on arms 12 meters high. These arms narrow to four meters at their base. They sit on round pillars. The pillars measure twenty meters in diameter at their base. They taper to eight meters at the top. The bridge’s 45-degree angle to the river is unusual. It also has a one-sided gradient of 0.55 percent.
Ing. Dr. Vilém Možíš was the chief designer. Road and Railway Constructions carried out the building without disrupting river traffic. The Railway Bridge in Holešovice passed load tests in October 1975. It gained full approval in December 1976.
As trains rumble overhead consider the engineering. Think about the individuals who made this bridge a reality. The Holešovický železniční most stands as a testament to progress. It symbolizes connectivity in Prague.