Ústí’s Schrödinger cycle lane: what will happen with it after the reconstruction?

Currently, the bridge is awaiting a comprehensive reconstruction being prepared by the Ústí Region’s road authority. This reconstruction is expected to commence in 2025 and will involve a complete closure of this important thoroughfare. However, a temporary parallel footbridge is planned to be built for pedestrians and cyclists during the reconstruction period.

Will Schrödinger's cycle lane become an actual cycle lane?

We were curious about what the cycling connection across the Labe (Elbe) in Ústí nad Labem would look like after its complete reconstruction. After all, as far back as the 2012 Sustainable Transport Master Plan, there was a proposal to create a cycle path along the northern side of the bridge, linking the city center to cycling route No. 2 and EuroVelo 7, which runs along the Střekov bank.

Magdalena Fraňková, the spokesperson for the Ústí Region, commented on the future of the cycling connection across the bridge for the „Městem na kole“ magazine: „Transport measures regarding cyclist passage and subsequent signage on the reconstructed bridge are not addressed within the scope of the PD – DIO (transportation engineering measures/documentation) project section. The reason is the lack of a cycling transport conception in the city center. However, the bridge will be structurally prepared for the creation of a lane for cyclists; this solution has been discussed with representatives of the Ústí nad Labem Municipality and the Traffic Engineer of the Czech Police.“

The implementation of cycling measures is currently not part of the project documentation for the planned reconstruction. Nevertheless, the bridge will be structurally prepared to potentially designate a lane for cyclists.