Most T. G. Masaryka, bridge in Kralupy nad Vltavou
The T. G. Masaryk Bridge is a concrete arch bridge that crosses the Vltava River and connects different parts of Kralupy nad Vltavou with the Lobeček area on the opposite bank. The structure features three large arches where the central span extends about 80 meters across the river, while the two flanking arches are roughly 60 meters each, allowing ships to pass freely without obstruction from mid-river supports.
The bridge was built between 1926 and 1928 after years of effort by the town. It was designed by Jarolím Farský and Jiří Kroha, and during the First Republic a toll was charged for crossing, with the revenue meant for maintenance. The toll collector's house survives on the Kralupy bank, though its door and window are walled up.
The bridge bears Masaryk's name, and two granite memorial plaques stand at its ends: one describes the construction and carries the town's relief coat of arms, the other a relief of T. G. Masaryk. The toll house on the Kralupy bank survives, its door and window now walled up.
The bridge is open to pedestrians and vehicles, with sidewalks on both sides and a width of roughly 10.5 meters (34 feet) between safety barriers. Heavy traffic can occur, so care is needed when crossing, and parking is available near both riverbanks, while street lighting illuminates the structure at night for safe passage.
When first built, a toll was required to cross, and a small toll house on the left bank collected fees, with its stone walls and outline still visible today. The central arch is a structural achievement because it spans the river without mid-stream supports, allowing ship passage and demonstrating the engineering expertise of interwar Czechoslovakia.
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