Czech road authorities have begun construction on a bypass around Pardubice, even on land where acquisition has not been completed, signaling a more assertive approach to infrastructure projects.
The Roads and Motorways Directorate (ŘSD) initiated perform despite ongoing disputes with former hockey player Stanislav Procházka over the sale of his land needed for the northeast Pardubice bypass.
ŘSD Director General Radek Mátl announced the move on social media, indicating a willingness to proceed with construction even while legal battles continue.
Procházka was seeking a premium – eight times the appraised value – on his land, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
“The three appraisals submitted by the plaintiff were not relevant. The claim for damages was filed too late,” said Jakub Hálek, the legal representative for ŘSD, who was the sole representative present during the dispute.
Mátl stated that the number of expropriations needed for the project is relatively minor, representing less than 5% of the total land acquired.
“Often, owners will sign the agreement before expropriation proceedings even begin,” Mátl explained. “They strive to negotiate a higher valuation until the legal processes start, but once they see the court involvement, they usually reach an agreement.”
He added that less than 1% of cases ultimately end up in court, with most being resolved through negotiation. This approach underscores the government’s commitment to completing vital infrastructure projects, even when faced with legal challenges.
Expropriation often arises due to disagreements over land prices, but other factors can also play a role. Some landowners, particularly farmers, prefer land swaps or the ability to continue working their land. This was the case with Ludmila Havránková, who exchanged land with ŘSD, allowing construction to proceed on the D11 highway near Hradec Králové after years of disputes.
The Vaňous family from Bohuňovice, Litomyšl region, resisted selling their land for 17 years, fearing the highway would divide their farmland, before finally reaching a settlement.
Not Here
In some instances, landowners simply oppose the road’s construction altogether. Jan Tikal, a former mayor of Opatovice, famously purchased a small plot of land in the path of a planned four-lane highway between Hradec Králové and Opatovice nad Labem and refused to sell, arguing that the expansion was unnecessary and resources should be focused on the D35 highway. He was eventually expropriated in 2010.
However, in the final stages of dispute resolution, courts generally side with ŘSD. This outcome was also seen in the case of the southeast bypass of Pardubice.
“We were expropriating two owners, and currently have all the land permanently secured for the construction,” said Petra Drkulová, a spokesperson for the Pardubice branch of ŘSD. On March 9, 2026, the Regional Court in Pardubice confirmed the expropriation of one of the landowners.
“No cases brought before this court by dissatisfied landowners have been successful,” said Aleš Korejtko, a judge at the Pardubice Regional Court.
Owner Often Unknown
Mátl emphasized the importance of the so-called linear law, which allows ŘSD to take possession of land upon a court decision, even before the final valuation is determined. “This allows us to build, and then determine the amount we will pay for the land,” he said.
Jan Rýdl, a spokesperson for ŘSD, also noted that a significant portion of expropriation cases involve situations where the landowner is difficult to locate or unresponsive. “This often happens when, for example, someone inherits land from a relative and lives on another continent,” he explained.
Photo: Roads and Motorways Directorate
Northeast Bypass of Pardubice
