Prague's Blanka Tunnel cost to reach 36 billion

Prague’s underground car traffic tunnel, known as Blanka, will reach a final price tag of 36 billion crowns, according to a report obtained from Prague municipal authorities by the newspaper Hospodářské Noviny. The tunnel, which is set to open in May 2014, will provide a traffic bypass from the north to the south-west of the city. Construction on the roughly 6.4 km tunnel began in 2007, with an initial estimated price tag of 28 billion crowns, according to then major Pavel Bém. Engineering challenges in the digging of the tunnel are said to be behind the increased costs. However, city authorities are claiming that they managed to reduce costs from escalating to 38 billion, saving 2 billion crowns. The tunnel is being built by the private firm Metrostav, with finances coming from both Prague and the national government.

Author: Dominik Jůn