The Podul Calicilor in Bucharest is scheduled for total reconstruction nearly a century after its disappearance, according to an announcement by the Bucharest City Hall (PMB). Mayor Ciprian Ciucu signed the construction authorizations in April, unlocking a project designed to reconnect the Şelari and Sfinți Apostoli streets near the Palace of Justice and the Domnița Bălașa Church.
Tendering Process and Project Timeline for Podul Calicilor
According to PMB, the deadline for submitting bids is set for October 1 at 15:00, with the contract awarded based on the best price-to-quality ratio. Reporting indicates that the estimated contract value reaches nearly 64 milioane de lei fără TVA, while the execution term spans 18 months. The new pedestrian bridge will span 32 meters in length and 23 meters in width, featuring a metal structure, an oak wood deck, and tempered glass railings.
Urban Revitalization Along the Dâmbovița River Banks
The broader initiative covers a substantial area of public space between Piața Unirii and Podul Izvor, as detailed by primary source coverage. The project includes extending pedestrian zones, building a belvedere platform at Izvor, rehabilitating the local pier, and modernizing a secondary pedestrian bridge. Mayor Ciucu stated that the city will reconfigure a 1.2-meter-wide bicycle lane, physically separating cars, pedestrians, and cyclists using bollards. Crews will preserve and supplement existing vegetation, install new urban furniture such as benches, bike racks, and trash cans, upgrade public lighting to LED technology, and ensure full accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Historical Background and Evolution of Podul Calicilor
Archival records trace the origins of Podul Calicilor back to the 16th century, when it took its name from Mahalaua Calicilor, a neighborhood associated with impoverished residents and beggars. In an 1933 article, the magazine Realitatea Ilustrată noted that the bridge crossed an area traditionally populated by needy groups on the right bank of the Dâmbovița River. Later known as Podul Rahovei, the crossing formed part of a medieval network of streets paved with oak planks rather than stone due to marshy terrain. A 1980 report in Viața Studențească cited historian Constantin C. Giurescu, who documented that Podul Calicilor stretched 3,900 meters, making it the longest of Bucharest’s historical wooden thoroughfares.
Did you know? Until 1825, Bucharest streets were largely paved with oak timber known as “podine de stejar” because the marshy ground could not support stone paving, which is why major thoroughfares historically carried the name “poduri” (bridges).
Systematization and the Demolition of the Historical Bridge
The original Podul Calicilor stood for over 300 years before vanishing during the 1930s urban systematization led by King Carol II’s administration, according to historical archives. In 1934, authorities approved a project to cover the Dâmbovița River with a concrete slab between Podul Senatului and Șerban Vodă, concluding construction work in November 1935. The current reconstruction aims to restore this lost historical connection within the modern capital.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dimensions of the new Podul Calicilor?
The rebuilt pedestrian bridge will measure 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, featuring a metal structure, oak wood deck, and tempered glass railings.
What is the deadline for company bids on the project?
According to PMB, the deadline for submitting offers is October 1 at 15:00.
Which streets will the reconstructed bridge connect?
The new crossing will link Șelari street and Sfinții Apostoli street near the Palace of Justice and the Domnița Bălașa Church area.
Who unblocked the construction project?
Ciprian Ciucu signed the construction authorizations in April to unblock the initiative.
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