D1 Highway Near Prague Closed for Šmejkalka Bridge Load Test

The Šmejkalka Bridge on the D1 motorway near Prague underwent a structural load test starting Friday, August 21, 2026, forcing a nighttime highway closure between the Mirošovice and Chocerady exits, according to the Ředitelství silnic a dálnic (ŘSD) and regional news reports.

Traffic officials closed the stretch of the D1 motorway at 22:00 local time, with the route scheduled to reopen by 06:00 Saturday morning. Dispatcher personnel and Luděk Hubáček of the ŘSD confirmed to ČTK that the diagnostic testing procedure utilizes eight fully loaded heavy goods vehicles, each weighing 32 tons, to test the bridge’s load-bearing capacity. Engineers selected nighttime testing windows to take advantage of reduced traffic volumes and stable ambient temperatures, which ensure accurate readings from monitoring equipment.

Bridge Testing Procedures and Engineering Measurements

Specialized diagnostic instruments measure multiple structural indicators throughout the overnight evaluation. According to ŘSD representatives, the equipment records bridge deflection under heavy loads, structural vibrations, and concrete stress levels.

“Hodnotí se jako celek,” stated Luděk Hubáček of the ŘSD regarding the evaluation process.

Comprehensive data analysis requires completion of the second testing phase, scheduled for the night of Saturday to Sunday. Results from both sessions will be evaluated together to determine the structural readiness of the span before any traffic configuration changes occur.

Official Detours and Alternative Routes for Drivers

The nighttime closures require substantial detours for motorists traveling through the region. Passenger vehicles and trucks under 12 tons must route via the I/3 road toward Benešov, continuing along the II/110 road through Soběhrdy and Kozmice, according to transport authorities.

Heavy freight vehicles exceeding 12 tons face a wider diversion. These larger trucks travel via the I/3 road through Olbramovice, Votice, and Miličín, before connecting to the D3 motorway and the I/19 road toward Pelhřimov and Humpolec, where they rejoin the D1 at exit 90.

Project Timeline and Upcoming Traffic Shifts

Reconstruction of the Šmejkalka Bridge represents an infrastructure overhaul for the oldest highway bridge in the Czech Republic. The project carries a total cost of nearly one billion crowns without VAT and began in 2023 under the execution of a construction partnership between Strabag and Pragoprojekt.

If the current load test reveals no complications, the ŘSD plans to shift traffic during the night of September 5 to September 6 onto the completed inbound section of the Šmejkalka Bridge heading toward Prague. That shift will allow construction crews to begin rebuilding the opposing half of the bridge directed toward Brno. Full completion and reopening of the bridge remain scheduled for next year, according to project disclosures.