Prague Ring Road Targeted for Completion by 2031

The long-delayed Prague Ring Road (D0) is now officially slated for completion in 2031, according to the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD). Once finished, the outer motorway will stretch about 83–84 kilometres, closing a gap in the Czech capital’s transport network that has been under development for decades.

The ring road currently has just under half of its sections in operation, including the southwest corridor that opened in 2010 to connect the D1 motorway to Brno with the D5 motorway to Plzeň. That section diverted a large share of transit traffic away from the Barrandov Bridge and southern approaches to the city, and included major engineering works such as the Lochkovský tunnel.

Work is already underway on the 12.6-kilometre stretch from Běchovice to D1, a six-lane section with multiple bridges and noise-reduction features, scheduled to open in 2027. Attention is also turning to the three remaining northern sections between Ruzyně and Satalice, which are progressing through environmental and engineering approvals. A new bridge over the Vltava River, planned between Suchdol and Březiněves, is expected to begin construction in 2027.

Officials emphasise that environmental measures have become a central part of the project design. Plans include low-noise road surfaces, kilometres of protective walls, and sections built in cuttings or tunnels to reduce the impact on neighbouring districts. Wildlife corridors are also planned in sensitive areas.

The final northern link is the most technically demanding, requiring relocation of high-voltage lines and coordination with multiple municipalities. Nevertheless, both the Ministry of Transport and ŘSD describe the project as a state priority. If the timeline holds, the full circuit should be in operation by 2031, more than fifty years after the earliest sections were conceived.

Transport experts say the completion will transform traffic flows across the capital and its hinterland. “The ring will take long-distance traffic out of the city, reduce congestion on major bridges, and improve connections between Prague and the Central Bohemian Region,” said ŘSD representatives.

Source: CTK