Road maintenance workers tackled the removal of a controversial billboard along Prague’s Ring Road on Monday morning, uncovering what appears to be an illegal electricity connection. The operation, conducted under police supervision, marked the end of a weeks-long standoff with the billboard’s owners.
The structure, owned by outdoor akzent company (part of the BigBoard group), had previously proven challenging to remove when owners blocked access roads, preventing necessary equipment from reaching the site. This time, however, the massive structure came down smoothly with the help of workers and a crane.
The case has taken a criminal turn as investigators discovered evidence of electricity theft. “The billboard was connected to the grid and illuminated, likely using stolen power without proper registration with Prague’s lighting authorities,” explained Jan Rýdl, spokesperson for the Road and Motorway Directorate.
The removal operation carries a hefty price tag of 400,000 Czech crowns, reflecting the billboard’s substantial size – one of the largest installations featuring two connected panels on a massive pole. Across the Czech Republic, over three thousand illegal advertisements still line highways and roads, despite long-standing legislation requiring their removal for traffic safety.
This year alone, road administrators have removed over a hundred such illegal advertisements, with total costs reaching approximately 20 million crowns. While the authorities can pursue billboard owners for these expenses, Rýdl notes that the recovery process remains complex, though recent legal amendments may streamline the procedure.