Busy Prague junction welcomes back trams, puts pedestrians first

Trams are once again running past Prague 7’s Exhibition Center (Výstaviště) after a months-long reconstruction of U Výstaviště Street, but cars will no longer be allowed to use the route. Six tram lines resumed service on Oct. 1, 10 days ahead of schedule, while construction crews continue work on sidewalks and public spaces in the Holešovice district.

For many residents and visitors, the change represents a shift in how people move through one of Prague 7’s busiest hubs, connecting Stromovka park, the Výstaviště fairgrounds, and nearby railway links. Residents can expect continued noise and detours until the final paving and landscaping are complete, while drivers will need to adjust to the permanent closure of the road to cars.

“By coordinating construction activities, we managed to accelerate the works,” said Aneta Řehková, spokesperson for the Prague Public Transit Company. The reopening affects lines 1, 6, 14, 17, 25, and 93, which had been rerouted since January.

The overhaul was part of a coordinated project involving the Technical Administration of Roads and other city agencies. Crews replaced utility networks, resurfaced roads and sidewalks, upgraded drainage and lighting, and replanted greenery. The tram line itself was straightened, removing the elongated S-shaped bend that once slowed vehicles near the Výstaviště stop.

Although tram traffic has resumed, the street remains an active construction site. Paving stones are still being laid, and public areas are closed off by barriers. Work is expected to finish later in autumn, when a new pedestrian zone will be opened beneath the railway viaduct and in front of Stromovka.

Prague 7 officials emphasize that cars will not return once the work is complete. “Only trams, rescue services, planetarium supplies and cyclists will be allowed to pass through Dukelských hrdinů Street,” said Prague 7 spokesman Martin Vokuš, confirming that newly installed no-entry signs for drivers are permanent.

City leaders argue the move will improve safety and reduce congestion. “People will have priority here when traveling to Stromovka, the exhibition center or the train,” Vokuš said. The redesign also integrates bike routes, including a connection to the citywide A6 cycling path.

Parking spaces and supply zones are being added along U Výstaviště to support local businesses and residents. Barrier-free crossings are also part of the design, reflecting a citywide push to make transport infrastructure more accessible.

The decision to close the street to cars mirrors broader European urban trends, where cities from Paris to Vienna are limiting private vehicles in favor of public transit and pedestrian-friendly spaces.